Brandon Ellingson
A special prosecutor has charged a Missouri State Trooper in the drowning of an Iowa man back in 20014.
Missouri State Trooper Anthony Piercy is now charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson. Ellingson was stopped by Piercy for alleged drunken boating at the Lake of the Ozarks. He fell overboard while in handcuffs and his life jacket came off as the patrol boat returned to shore and attempts to rescue him failed.
Piercy later admitted he didn’t properly put a life jacket on Ellingson, and that he didn’t have enough training to work the water patrol. Ellingson’s death was ruled accidental by a jury during a coroner inquest and the Osage County prosecutor declined to press criminal charges against Piercy.
The prosecuter reopened the case in January after saying she had gotten some new information. The new proceedings have led to the involuntary manslaughter charge.