Four individuals are facing serious charges following the tragic death of a 5-year-old boy in a medical facility in suburban Detroit. The boy, Thomas Cooper, was killed in an explosion of a pressurized oxygen chamber at the Oxford Center in Troy on January 31. His mother suffered burns while trying to rescue him.
Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, described the incident as a horrific accident where a single spark ignited a fire that consumed the child within seconds. She emphasized the dangers of such chambers, noting that fires in these settings are almost always fatal.
The charges against the four individuals include second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Tamela Peterson, the center’s founder and CEO, is charged with second-degree murder. Gary Marken, the facility manager, and Gary Mosteller, the safety manager, face both second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges. Aleta Moffitt, who operated the chamber during the explosion, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and providing false information on medical records.
All four were arrested on Monday and entered not guilty pleas in court. Concerns were raised about Peterson possibly fleeing due to her financial resources, leading to her bond being set at $2 million. Marken and Mosteller were given $250,000 bonds, while Moffitt’s bond was set at $100,000.
The family’s attorney revealed that Thomas had been receiving treatments for sleep apnea and ADHD, which are not approved uses for hyperbaric oxygen therapy by the FDA. Nessel pointed out that the treatments provided were not supported by medical science and that the facility operated as a for-profit business without insurance coverage for these conditions.
Safety measures were reportedly ignored at the Oxford Center. Nessel indicated that a maintenance check had not been conducted that day, no medical doctor was present, and the treatment was not administered by a licensed technician. Investigators found that the center had been operating these dangerous chambers beyond their safe service limits.
The Oxford Center stated that the safety of its patients is its highest priority and expressed shock at the incident. They pledged to cooperate with ongoing investigations.
This heartbreaking event has left a profound impact on the community, with many expressing sympathy for the family and concern for the safety practices at the facility.