Platte County Prosecuting Attorney announces retirement

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV)-- Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd announced he’ll retire at the end of 2026, wrapping up 24 years in the role—the longest tenure of any prosecutor in the county’s 187-year history. 

Zahnd first took office in January 2003 after winning a hard-fought political race. Before that, he worked in private practice at Bryan Cave LLP.  

He got his start in public service in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office under Bill Webster, and he and his wife have been active in the Republican Party for decades. 

Over the years, Zahnd and his first assistant, Gibson, have secured convictions in hundreds of serious criminal cases, including murder, rape, robbery, assault and other violent felonies.  

In 2014, Zahnd was named Missouri’s Prosecutor of the Year, recognized for helping establish best practices for prosecutors across the state and contributing to national conversations on the topic.  

Earlier in his career, he was highlighted as an “up and coming lawyer” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2007 and was named to Ingram’s Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list in 2004.  

Looking ahead, Zahnd is working on a book titled Joy Comes in the Morning and plans to explore opportunities in law and graduate-level teaching. 

He’ll remain in office through Dec. 31, 2026, when his current term officially ends.