Harrison County Sheriff Joshua Q. Eckerson, 45, took his life on March 5 after charges were filed against him in Daviess County, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. The preliminary investigation indicates Eckerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his residence in Bethany.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Earlier that day, three misdemeanor charges were filed regarding allegations from Feb. 26. The charges were filed after an investigation by the Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control.
Eckerson was summoned to appear in court in Gallatin on April 14 on the misdemeanor charges of misuse of official information by a public servant, trespass in the first degree, and domestic assault in the fourth degree. The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the matter. The charges are no longer on the court docket.
Harrison County Coroner Zach Wilson will assume the sheriff’s duties until another sheriff is appointed and qualified, per Missouri statute. The vacancy in the office of sheriff is then filled by the county commission. A special election is not required to be held if the general election is within less than nine months. The office is up for election in the general election on Nov. 3.
Eckerson had served as Harrison County sheriff since 2012 and had just filed for re-election.
A celebration of life is scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday March 12, at the Immanuel Baptist Church of Bethany under the direction of the Roberson Funeral Home. Survivors include four children and their mother Kristy, his mother and sister, his grandmother, and great-grandmother, all of the area.