Thomas Cooper Obituary, Death; – Four individuals have been charged in connection with the death of a five-year-old boy who tragically lost his life due to an explosion inside a pressurized oxygen chamber at a medical facility in suburban Detroit.
Thomas Cooper, a resident of Royal Oak, Michigan, was declared dead at the scene. His mother, who was adjacent to the chamber at the time of the incident, sustained injuries to her arms when the explosion occurred on January 31 at the Oxford Center in Troy.
According to online court records, Tamela Peterson, the founder and chief executive of the center, faces a charge of second-degree murder. The other individuals charged include Gary Marken, 65, and Gary Mosteller, 64, both facing charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, while Aleta Moffitt, 60, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and for allegedly providing false medical information on a medical records chart.
Arraignments for the defendants were scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at Troy District Court, as stated by Lt. Ben Hancock. The prosecution is being led by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, with further details anticipated to be disclosed during a news conference later in the morning.
Raymond Cassar, the attorney representing Marken, expressed that the second-degree murder charge was a “total shock” to both him and his client. “For fairness, he is presumed innocent,” Cassar remarked. “This was a tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this young boy. It is important to emphasize that this was an accident, not an intentional act. We will rely on experts to determine the cause of this incident.”
Ellen Michaels, Moffitt’s attorney, opted not to comment prior to the arraignment on Tuesday. The Associated Press has reached out to Peterson’s attorney for a statement, but no response has been received. Additionally, no attorney has been identified for Mosteller.
A voicemail was left for the attorney representing the Oxford Center, and the Associated Press also sought comments from the center itself. Following the explosion, the Oxford Center indicated in an email that a fire had ignited within the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. “The safety and wellbeing of the children we serve is our highest priority,” stated the center.
