Four individuals face charges related to the tragic death of a five-year-old boy, Thomas Cooper, who died during an explosion inside a pressurised oxygen chamber at a medical facility in Troy, Michigan, on January 31. The incident also resulted in injuries to Cooper’s mother, who was nearby at the time.
Among those charged is Tamela Peterson, the founder and CEO of the Oxford Centre, who is facing a count of second-degree murder. Two other defendants, Gary Marken, 65, and Gary Mosteller, 64, are charged with both second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, while Aleta Moffitt, 60, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and knowingly providing false medical information.
The arraignments were scheduled for Tuesday afternoon and are being overseen by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is expected to disclose further details at a news conference.
Marken’s lawyer, Raymond Cassar, expressed disbelief over the murder charges, emphasizing that the incident was a tragic accident and not an intentional act. He underscored the importance of treating his client with fairness, reminding everyone that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Details regarding the incident revealed that a fire erupted within the hyperbaric chamber, which delivers pure oxygen under high pressure, thereby increasing oxygen levels up to five times that of normal atmospheric conditions. This high concentration of oxygen in a pressurised setting can create a highly combustible environment, and authorities are still investigating the sequence of events leading to the explosion.
The Oxford Centre has expressed its commitment to the safety and wellbeing of its young patients and stated it does not know the cause of the explosion, pledging cooperation in the investigation. The facility has had an unblemished record in over 15 years of providing hyperbaric therapy.
As the legal process unfolds, the community continues to grapple with the implications of this tragic accident and the loss of a young life.