Former Cooper County Jail guard gets probation in inmate’s death

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Cooper County Jail guard received a two-year probation term for her role in an inmate's death in 2023.

Rachel Atherton pleaded guilty to second-degree involuntary manslaughter on Monday. Prosecutors reduced her chare on Friday to the lesser felony. Jazzlyn Johnson, spokesperson for special prosecutors out of Jackson County, said Atherton received a two-year suspended imposition of sentence.

Atherton pleaded guilty to the same crime a jury found another jail guard, Robyn Pfeiffer, guilty of in February. Both were accused of neglecting the health concerns of Brooke Bailey before she died while in custody.

Brent Haden, an attorney for Atherton, declined to comment on Monday.

Johnson said Atherton's guilty plea to a felony makes her ineligible for a Missouri peace officer's license.