Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Dec 21, 2020
IN THE MATTER OF THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF DONALD PECKHAM, a/k/a DONALD D. PECKHAM, a/k/a DONALD DEAN PECKHAM, Respondent-Appellant v. STATE OF MISSOURI, Petitioner-Respondent
Donald Peckham was committed as a sexually violent predator, and his commitment was affirmed on appeal. While his application for transfer to the Supreme Court was pending, Peckham died. The appellate court withdrew its prior opinion and remanded the case to the circuit court with directions to vacate the judgment and commitment order, and to dismiss the underlying petition, applying the doctrine of abatement ab initio.