A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Arkansas after a 21-year-old man with developmental disabilities died while under the supervision of state health services employees. The case has raised serious concerns about restraint practices, staff training, and oversight at a state-run human development center.
Zachary Moore, who had the mental capacity of a young child, died on September 7, 2025, at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. His family alleges that staff members held him face down for nearly 13 minutes and injected him with a chemical sedative before realizing he had stopped breathing.
According to an internal investigation conducted by the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Moore became combative on the day of the incident and attempted to bite other residents. Staff reportedly attempted to restrain him physically, but the restraint was described as ineffective. At that point, employees administered Geodon, a medication typically prescribed for schizophrenia and certain bipolar disorder episodes…