Six Arkansas Care Facility Staff Charged With Manslaughter Following Fatal Restraint Incident

Six employees at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center face manslaughter and neglect charges after the death of 21-year-old resident Zachary Moore. On September 7, 2025, staff members reportedly pinned Moore in a prone position for nearly 13 minutes while administering a chemical restraint known as Geodon. The facility, which provides care for individuals with developmental disabilities, failed to notice that Moore had stopped breathing during the prolonged struggle. Moore’s mother, Angela Stephens, described her son as having the mental capacity of a five-year-old and is currently seeking a $725,000 settlement from the state.

An official investigation by the Arkansas Department of Human Services concluded that facility staff deviated from established safety protocols during the incident. The death certificate officially classified the case as a homicide, citing physiologic stress caused by the prone restraint. In response to the tragedy, the state agency placed 11 employees on administrative leave, terminated one staff member, and appointed new leadership at the Warren facility. The six individuals charged in connection with the death are scheduled for court appearances on March 30. State officials have since pledged to implement systemic changes to prevent future occurrences of such fatal negligence.