BREAKING NEWS in the case of a former Missouri police officer in connection with the death of his K-9 partner. Local media is reporting that former Savannah, Missouri, police sergeant Daniel Zeigler entered a not-guilty plea in Buchanan County court earlier today. On June 20, Zeigler not only left his K-9 partner, Horus, in their police vehicle, but he also turned off a backup system that would have alerted him and, at the very least, opened the windows of the vehicle. Zeigler reportedly discovered K-9 Horus 12 hours later in the hot car.
The backstory? Zeigler found Horus, called Chief David Vincent, and then Zeigler, the chief, and another individual took Horus from Zeigler’s house to city-owned land, dug a hole, and buried him. No one informed the community. Several days later, the chief announced the news, saying Horus had died due to complications from being left in a car after an overnight shift. Zeigler was put on paid administrative leave 11 days later.
A group of animal advocates fought to obtain information about Horus crossing the rainbow bridge and to learn the location of the burial. They then made a makeshift memorial. Later, an anonymous donor provided a headstone for Horus, and a service was held—all organized by the animal advocates. Without them, these tributes would not have happened. City officials have claimed that no coverup was intended and that they were simply in shock.
Zeigler’s next court date is set for November 5, for a trial setting, as Zeigler seeks a change of venue, aiming for a place where he believes he can receive an impartial jury—something he contends may not be possible in the Savannah area.
If you’d like your voice to be heard, contact Andrew County District Attorney Greg Goodwin at 573-751-8779 or [email protected].
Jamie Marcum City of Savannah Voices for K9 Officer Horus Savannah Missouri Police Department Andrew Bailey
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