4 charged in death of 5-year-old boy in hyperbaric chamber explosion
Share and Follow

Four people have been charged in the death of a 5-year-old boy who was killed inside a pressurized oxygen chamber that exploded at a suburban Detroit medical facility.

Thomas Cooper from Royal Oak, Michigan, was pronounced dead at the scene. His mother was standing next to the chamber and suffered injuries to her arms when it exploded Jan. 31 at the Oxford Center in Troy.

Online court records show the center’s founder and chief executive, Tamela Peterson is charged with second-degree murder. The other defendants are Gary Marken, 65, and Gary Mosteller, 64, charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter; and Aleta Moffitt, 60, charged with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false medical information on a medical records chart.

FILE – A hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center in Brighton, Mich., is shown Feb. 8, 2024. (David Guralnick/Detroit News via AP, file)

Arraignments were scheduled Tuesday afternoon in Troy District Court, Lt. Ben Hancock said. The case is being prosecuted by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and details were expected to be released during a late morning news conference.

Raymond Cassar, Marken’s attorney, said the second-degree murder charge comes as “a total shock” to him and his client.

“For fairness, he is presumed innocent,” Cassar said. “This was a tragic accident and our thoughts and our prayers go out to the family of this little boy. I want to remind everyone that this was an accident, not an intentional act. We’re going to have to leave this up to the experts to find out what was the cause of this.”

Moffitt’s lawyer, Ellen Michaels, declined to comment before Tuesday’s arraignment. The Associated Press left a telephone message Tuesday morning seeking comment from Peterson’s attorney. An attorney was not listed for Mosteller.

A voicemail was left seeking comment from an attorney representing the Oxford Center. The AP also left a message seeking comment from the center.

The Oxford Center had said in an email following the explosion that a fire started inside the hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

“The safety and wellbeing of the children we serve is our highest priority,” the center said. “Nothing like this has happened in our more than 15 years of providing this type of therapy. We do not know why or how this happened and will participate in all of the investigations that now need to take place.”

Hyperbaric therapy increases delivers pure oxygen to a person’s body inside the pressurized chamber. That’s up to five times the amount of oxygen in a normal room, Troy Fire Lt. Keith Young said following the explosion.

“The presence of such a high amount of oxygen in a pressurized environment can make it extremely combustible,” Young said. “We did some initial investigation. This is very uncommon, so we’re not sure what led up to it.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Disney Cruise Line’s Latest Ship Sets Sail for Port Canaveral: A Magical Voyage Awaits

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – While Fort Lauderdale is set to be its…

Enchanting Adventures: Ukrainian Children Enjoy Disney Magic and Halloween Fun on U.S. Tour

A group of Ukrainian children recently experienced a break from the ongoing…

Evening Showers on the Horizon: Storm Team 3 Predicts Cloudy Skies Today

In Savannah, Georgia, the recent spell of cool, sunny weather is set…

Church Hill’s Culinary Haven: Enjoy Meals & Birthday Cakes Despite Government Shutdown

In the heart of Church Hill, Tennessee, the Maple Leaf Diner is…

Experts Reveal the Real Impact of ‘Doomscrolling’ on Your Well-Being

Though it may seem soothing to lose oneself in the endless stream…

Federal Food Aid Uncertainty Intensifies Amid Escalating Government Shutdown Crisis

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the central issues fueling the government shutdown in…

NFL Legend and Broadcaster Bob Trumpy Passes Away

The world of sports mourns the loss of Bob Trumpy, a distinguished…

Udio’s AI Song Generator Reopens for Limited Downloads Following Universal Music Settlement Controversy

Udio, a platform specializing in AI-generated music, has announced a 48-hour window…