Hearing set for former Cooper County jail employees accused of manslaughter

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

A hearing has been scheduled for former employees at the Cooper County Jail who were charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the October death of an inmate.

Robyn Pfeiffer, 29, and Rachel Atherton, 34, were charged last week in the death of Brooke Bailey. They both have a hearing set for 10 a.m. Friday, March 22. Pfeiffer on Friday waived a formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty.

Bailey 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.