A settlement follows criminal charges and renewed scrutiny of patient care practices.
WARREN, AR – A mother is pressing for sweeping changes across Arkansas’ state-run developmental centers after her 21-year-old son died following a prolonged restraint and chemical injection at a facility in Warren. The case has triggered criminal charges against multiple employees and prompted a state settlement totaling $725,000.
Zachary Moore, who had a rare genetic condition affecting brain function and required specialized care, died after being held down for nearly 13 minutes and administered a chemical restraint at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center last fall, according to state findings. His mother, Angela Stephens, says the settlement is only part of a broader effort to prevent similar incidents.
“Part of that settlement was … money doesn’t bring Zachary back, but change can help the next Zachary,” Stephens told Law&Crime. “And why I say the next Zachary is because there is a boy named Zachary in his room when Zachary was killed, and is now going through therapy because he watched them kill him.”
Facility response and state findings
Stephens said her son, who she described as having the mental capacity of a young child, had previously been placed at a larger state facility in Conway, where she said staff had established routines to manage his needs. He was later transferred to the Warren facility, a move she said was not clearly explained.
“They just didn’t want to keep him,” Stephens said.
According to a report released by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Moore became combative on the night of Sept. 7 after staff removed his tablet at bedtime. Employees attempted physical restraint, which the report said was ineffective, before administering Geodon, a medication approved for certain psychiatric conditions.
Stephens said she later learned the situation escalated quickly. “All this started from … it was time for bed, and he had his tablet, and they took his tablet away and told him it was time for bed,” she said.
The report states staff later realized Moore was not breathing. He was pronounced dead after emergency responders arrived.
“The loss of one of the residents entrusted to our care at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center was wholly unacceptable and is not reflective of the level of care we work to provide Arkansans every day,” Arkansas DHS Secretary Janet Mann said in October. “We offer our deepest sympathies to the individual’s family and are working to both hold accountable those responsible for this incident and make changes throughout our system to prevent future tragedies.”
Criminal charges and calls for reform
Six employees have been charged with manslaughter and neglect of a vulnerable person in connection with Moore’s death. Court proceedings were scheduled for this week, where defendants were expected to enter pleas or signal trial intentions.
Stephens said she struggled to get answers in the hours after her son’s death and ultimately relied on information from an emergency responder. “The ambulance, the driver … told me that it was the most vicious thing ever,” she said. “He said that nobody had an explanation, nobody knew when he quit breathing, nobody knew anything. … He said it was the worst situation he had ever been in.”
State officials placed 11 employees on administrative leave following the incident, with one termination confirmed. Leadership at the Warren facility was also replaced, and DHS said additional accountability measures were underway.
Stephens is now advocating for policy changes, including improved staff training and oversight across all five state-run facilities. “I am still frustrated,” she said. “I am hoping that from this last court appearance, there was a couple of the legislators and loved ones still in facilities and have a concern along with me that they will come along with me to make changes and to prevent this from happening to others.”
“I believe a lot more training and thought needs to go into background checks, drug tests, stuff like that,” she added, “when it comes to the care for our loved ones.”
Arkansas developmental center death, Zachary Moore case, Warren Arkansas facility investigation, DHS restraint policy Arkansas, manslaughter charges care workers