Hearing on peace officer’s license of former Cooper County Jail staffer accused of manslaughter set for September
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A former Cooper County Jail staff member who was accused of manslaughter will have an Administrative Hearing Commission hearing over the status of her peace officer’s license.
A hearing for Rachel Atherton is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, according to AHC documents. Atherton currently has a suspended Class A peace officer's license under the name Rachel Hovland, according to an email from Missouri Department of Public Safety spokesperson Mike O'Connell.
Atherton, of Pilot Grove, was charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the death of Brooke Bailey. Robyn Pfeiffer was also charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter. Both were indicted by a grand jury on Friday, April 19 and a criminal summons was issued. A hearing for both in their criminal cases is set for 10 a.m. Friday, May 3.
Bailey, of Jefferson City, was found dead on Oct. 27 in her cell with blood and vomit on the floor and on her clothing. Special prosecutors with the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office filed the charges.
Both Atherton and Pfeiffer are accused of failing to get Bailey medical help and telling others not to do so, according to the complaints filed against them.
Court documents say a medical examiner found Bailey died from diabetic ketoacidosis and low sodium levels. Bailey had told staff when she was booked that she had diabetes, along with other conditions. The probable cause statement says Bailey did not receive treatment when she complained of feeling ill and she became verbally nonresponsive to jailers.
