Six people charged in connection with the 2025 death of Zachary Moore, a resident at an Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) care facility in Warren, pleaded guilty on Wednesday.
Moore was a resident at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. On Sept. 7, 2025, he was held in a face-down position for around 13 minutes and chemically injected, causing his death.
The incident led to the firing of 13 employees and a full review of the center's operations, with DHS Secretary Janet Mann admitting there were "significant issues" in the handling of Moore's case.
Chekiona Jones, Marquez Williams, Karen Furlough, Neeyo Harding, Mark Thomas, and Victor Booker were all charged with manslaughter in March 2026 in connection with the incident.
Moore's death made waves across the state, resulting in a hearing with state lawmakers at the Capitol and a settlement for his family, including his mother, Angela Stephens, who urged lawmakers to make meaningful changes to ensure what happened didn't happen again.
Stephens was in Bradley County for the hearing on Oct. 21 and told 5NEWS the six defendants pleaded guilty to negligent homicide.
A seventh person, Ashley Marshall, was charged after the other six with criminal attempt, a Class C felony.
Court documents said Marshall was responsible for administering the chemical restraint to Moore when he was being held on the ground. She is expected in court on Dec. 8, with trial beginning on Jan. 27.
Remembering Zachary
Stephens said in an interview months after Moore's death that he had the mental capacity of a 5-year-old. She described him as happy and loving.
"[Zachary] loved arts and crafts and loved tractors... but he had a mutated gene that caused brain problems. Seizures and mental delay and stuff like that," Stephens said.
Stephens has since sought justice, fighting for reform to ensure what happened to her son doesn't happen to anyone else.
"I want to honor him by fighting for justice for him, for safety, for every child and resident still in the system. My sone mattered. He's not just a name and a file."
