DETROIT, MI – A courtroom in Detroit was the scene of a tense hearing as the CEO of the Oxford Center, Tammy Peterson, and three of her employees faced serious charges related to a deadly accident. The incident involved a hyperbaric oxygen chamber that caught fire, resulting in the tragic death of five-year-old Thomas Cooper. The charges against the defendants include second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
Prosecutors argued that Peterson prioritized profit over safety, leading to the tragic incident. They alleged that Peterson directed her assistant manager, Gary Martin, to manipulate the machines, which involved rolling back the hours on the hyperbaric chambers to avoid necessary maintenance. Jeffrey Mosteller, the safety officer, was accused of failing to adhere to safety protocols, further contributing to the disaster.
On the day of the fatal explosion, investigators discovered that the facility was inadequately staffed and lacked essential safety measures, such as grounding wires. These oversights likely caused the spark that ignited the fire inside the chamber where Cooper was receiving treatment for ADHD and sleep apnea.
The investigation exposed the Oxford Center’s neglect of safety standards, revealing a pattern of insufficient training and preparedness among staff members. One employee was reportedly unaware of how to use a fire extinguisher, underscoring the lack of safety awareness at the facility.
Assistant Attorney General’s office claimed that Peterson attempted to hinder the investigation by deleting data from her laptop and providing false information to authorities to obstruct access to crucial evidence, including video footage of the explosion. These actions raised concerns about her intentions and accountability.
Considering Peterson a flight risk, the judge set her bond at $2 million, citing her possession of an active visa to China and recent purchase of Iraqi currency. The judge also prohibited Peterson from contacting anyone at the Oxford Centers in Troy or Brighton, addressing her history of using intimidation tactics to silence dissenters.
Martin and Mosteller had their bonds set at $250,000, while Alita Moffett, the unlicensed worker operating the chamber at the time of the fire, had her bond set at $100,000. Defense attorneys have vowed to challenge the charges, questioning the evidence and the prosecution’s narrative.
Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed concern over the unregulated nature of cash-only oxygen therapy using hyperbaric chambers, highlighting the absence of state oversight. The chamber involved in the explosion reportedly lacked a fire suppression system, a critical safety feature.
Four charged in deadly Hyperbaric Chamber Explosion
The defendants are scheduled to appear in court again at the end of the month as the legal proceedings continue. Meanwhile, the case has sparked a broader discussion about the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the hyperbaric therapy industry to prevent similar tragedies in the future.