New prosecutor gives new hope for answers in teen’s mysterious death at Pillen Family Farms

By: Andrew Wegley, Flatwater Free Press

Outlets: Nebraska Examiner

Published: January 31, 2026

Words: 803

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 2 days ago

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LINCOLN — Days after a 17-year-old died while working at a hog farm owned by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s family, Boone County’s attorney knew Zach Panther’s mother would seek independent lab tests to determine what had killed her son — an effort the prosecutor seemed supportive of.

John Morgan wrote an email on the family’s behalf to the medical lab performing Zach’s autopsy a week after the teen was found collapsed at the farm outside …

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