O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced Friday that no charges will be filed in the 2017 death of Tory Sanders, a Black inmate at a rural jail who died under similar circumstances to George Floyd – after a white law enforcement officer’s knee was pressed on his neck.
Schmitt, a Republican, said in a news release that there is not enough evidence to prove first- or second-degree murder, which are the only options because the statute of limitations has expired on other potential charges, such as manslaughter. The statute of limitations for manslaughter in Missouri is three years.
“The death of Tory Sanders is tragic and heartbreaking, particularly for his family and his loved ones, and my heart goes out to them,” Schmitt said in the statement.
Sanders’ mother, Quinta Sanders, said by phone from Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday that her son was murdered and accused Schmitt of not having the courage to file murder charges.
Schmitt’s predecessor, Josh Hawley, also investigated Sanders’ death but declined to file charges.