The Michigan Attorney General’s Office has charged four individuals about the death of a 5-year-old boy who died in an explosion inside a hyperbaric chamber. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the charges during a press conference on Tuesday.
The accused include Tami Peterson, the owner of Oxford Center, Jeffrey Mosteller, the safety director, and Gary Marken, the director of operations. They are facing charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of the young boy, Thomas Cooper. Aleta Moffitt, who was operating the chamber at the time of the explosion, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and providing false information on a medical form.
Nessel revealed that consultations with hyperbaric treatment experts led to some alarming findings. The chambers at the center were reportedly past their service time and should not have been in use. Furthermore, there were no daily maintenance checks, no safety supervisors on site, and no licensed technician operating the machine.
The attorney general also stated that the center failed to adhere to safety protocols designed to prevent fires in the highly flammable chambers. Nessel argued that the second-degree murder charges were justified as the accused acted with a “wanton and willful disregard of the likelihood that the natural tendency of said act would result in death.”
Hyperbaric chambers are typically used to treat conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, and inflammatory bowel diseases. However, Thomas was reportedly being treated for ADHD and sleep apnea, therapies not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The Oxford Center, located in Troy, a suburb of Detroit, responded to the charges in a statement to local Fox affiliate WJBK. The center expressed surprise at the timing of the charges and stated that the typical protocol following a fire-related accident had not been completed. They also emphasized their commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the children and families they serve.
The tragic incident occurred on January 31, when police and fire crews responded to a call about an explosion at the medical facility. Upon arrival, they found Thomas dead inside the hyperbaric chamber. His mother, who was sitting next to the chamber, also sustained injuries.
The family has since engaged the services of renowned attorney Geoffrey Fieger to explore a possible lawsuit. Fieger is known for representing Dr. Jack Kevorkian and the families of the victims of the 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School.
The Oxford Center, which specializes in treating children in hyperbaric chambers, was founded by Peterson after a chamber helped her 9-year-old daughter recover from viral encephalitis. Following the incident, the center reiterated its commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the children they serve.
A GoFundMe campaign for Thomas has raised approximately $70,000. The campaign describes Thomas as an active boy who loved books, particularly James the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.