There are reasons Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Wilson has limited his comments on the ongoing investigation into Carl DeBrodie's death, Wilson said Thursday.
"Missouri prosecutors are bound by Missouri Supreme Court rules of ethics regarding statements outside the courtroom or court pleadings that prosecutors may make," he said in a news release. "Prosecutors have an obligation to refrain from making statements that jeopardize those investigations or prosecutions, but we also have an ethical responsibility to refrain from making statements that heighten public condemnation of the accused."
Callaway County authorities have faced public criticism over the pace and lack of information released in the DeBrodie case. As of Thursday, no arrests had been made in the case.
"Carl DeBrodie has not been forgotten," Wilson promised.
DeBrodie, 31, initially was reported missing April 17, 2017. The developmentally disabled man lived at a supported living facility managed at the time by Second Chance Homes of Fulton.
On April 24, police found his decomposed body wrapped in plastic and encased in concrete. DeBrodie's body was inside a trash container and a wooden crate in a storage unit in Fulton. Fulton Police Chief Steve Myers confirmed at the time the body was severely decomposed, meaning DeBrodie might have been deceased for months.
"My not answering specific questions from the media about the investigation is in no way intended to stifle legitimate public interest and concern regarding (DeBrodie's) death," Wilson said. "I respect the public's need to know what is happening with the DeBrodie investigation. At the same time, I have every intention of honoring my ethical obligation, preserving the integrity of the investigation and respecting (his) family by keeping them informed of developments in the case."
Based on comments from the lawyer representing DeBrodie's mother, Carolyn Summers, however, information is in short supply everywhere.
"I feel, to try to get to the bottom of this, I need to file the lawsuit and get these people under oath and find out what really happened," attorney Rudy Veit said Wednesday.
Veit filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit on Summers' behalf Jan. 23, naming a long list of defendants including Callaway County.
Wilson also revealed his office didn't receive the complete death investigation until Jan. 11, although it was completed in mid-October.
"At that time, federal prosecutors requested that the death investigation be submitted to federal authorities for review before it was turned over to prosecutors," he said.
Wilson previously has declined to specify the types of charges that might result, but said Thursday that local law enforcement investigated "possible violations of federal health care law." That portion of the investigation concluded last summer, he added.
"State and federal prosecutors are now reviewing the death investigation," Wilson said. "Whether there will be federal charges, state charges or a combination of the two is the subject of ongoing discussion between officials at both levels."
Prosecuting certain state criminal charges could preclude prosecuting some federal criminal charges - thus the need for extensive discussion, Wilson said.
He also clarified that to prevent conflict of interest, he would not defend against Summers' civil suit. The suit will be handled by private counsel, he said, and will not impact the death investigation.