Callaway County may need outside legal help for DeBrodie lawsuit

Callaway County may need help from outside county government to handle a civil lawsuit related to Carl DeBrodie’s death.

ABC 17 News reported on Tuesday that DeBrodie’s mother, Carolyn Summers, sued numerous individuals and agencies that may have had a role in the 31-year-old’s death.

The lawsuit names Callaway County Public Administrator Karen Digh Allen, as well as unknown members of her office as defendants that failed to make sure DeBrodie was safe at Second Chance Homes of Fulton. DeBrodie was reported missing on April 17, but law enforcement believes he died several months prior based on the decomposition of his body.

Callaway County Prosecutor Chris Wilson can advise the county commission on legal issues, but the county’s insurer will most likely help pay for legal help on the lawsuit, said Bill Tackett, a former prosecutor in Cole County. The legal team involved in the case will most likely break down into three categories.

“You have the Attorney General’s Office for state agencies, you’re going to have private lawyers for any private entity, and of course we have one in this case, and then finally, the insurer for the county, the [Missouri] Association of Counties, would have a lawyer representing the county officials,” Tackett told ABC 17 News.

Wilson’s criminal investigation into DeBrodie’s death has not yet finished. The case involves thousands of pages, and Wilson said it was the most complicated case of his career. Attorneys with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are helping in the case.

Wilson did not return a message seeking comment on his involvement in the civil case on Wednesday.

Rudolph Veit, the lawyer for the DeBrodie family, told ABC 17 News that Wilson has kept the family informed along the way. Filing the lawsuit allows them to begin questioning people they believe were involved in DeBrodie’s death.

“Through thorough depositions, find out truly what happened in this case,” Veit said.

Wilson and other investigators are reviewing more than 25,000 documents related to DeBrodie’s death. Fulton police Chief Steve Myers told ABC 17 News in November he was confident they performed a thorough investigation, and was also awaiting a decision from Wilson on criminal charges.

Tackett said investigators most likely have interviewed all the necessary parties for the criminal case. While the DeBrodie family may depose people involved in any possible criminal case arising from Carl’s death, Tackett said those depositions may not provide any new evidence that could be used in criminal court. Tackett said the defendants also have a right to avoid self-incrimination.

“Those statements [to police] are locked in,” Tackett said. “So I don’t know how much more evidence or statements you would get on the wrongful death side.”