Prosecutor: DeBrodie case most complex of career

ABC 17 News spoke with Callaway County Prosecutor Chris Wilson about the death investigation of Carl DeBrodie.

DeBrodie, a mentally handicapped man from Fulton was found encased in cement a week after he was reported missing from his independent supported living facility. Police said the decomposition of the body suggested he was missing for more than a week.

Wilson said the U.S. attorney general’s office has started to look at the federal aspect of the case. It’s been confirmed a case worker who was tasked with meeting with DeBrodie face-to-face on a monthly basis was not doing so despite filing reports stating otherwise.

Wilson said the death investigation is still active and ongoing. He said he meets once or twice a week with detectives to stay updated on the case but his office has not been handed the case.

Part of the delay, Wilson said, involved test results. Wilson said every case is different and the toxicology for this case was more extensive than usual. He also mentioned there was a forensic anthropologist involved.

Since April, ABC 17 News has been covering the investigation and uncovering information about DeBrodie and those tasked with taking care of him. The community has repeated wanted to know why it is taking so long for this case to wrap up and for arrests to be made.

Wilson said this is the most complex investigation he’s dealt with in his 22 years of practicing law.

Wilson said it’s not in the best interests of law enforcement or the prosecutors to rush an arrest. He said they want as many facts as possible before making any decisions so there are no mistakes later on.

To read more on ABC 17’s coverage of this investigation, we have compiled all our reports here.

You can also watch a special report on the investigation here.