A Stanberry man who died after suffering a seizure in a Nodaway County Courtroom likely killed himself with cyanide.

Nodaway County Sheriff Darren White says that during the post-mortem examination Friday, the coroner found evidence of cyanide poisoning in the body of Steven Parsons.

 

Mr Parsons suffered a seizure in court shortly after a jury found him guilty of the statutory sodomy of a 14-year-old girl. He was rushed to the hospital, first to St Francis in Maryville, and later to Heartland Regional Medical Center in St Joseph, where he was pronounced dead Thursday.

White says his investigators executed search warrants on Friday, and in the process searched Mr Parsons’ car. They found a piece of paper with a business name and phone number.

They called the business and learned that Mr Parsons had ordered cyanide and had it sent to his business by overnight delivery on June 25. Parsons was the owner of Parsons Tire in Maryville.

White says that the investigation will continue, but he believes the final forensic report will confirm his suspicion that Mr Parsons committed suicide.