The ongoing investigation into the tragic hyperbaric chamber explosion that claimed the life of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper in January at the Oxford Center in Troy, Michigan, entered another phase of court proceedings yesterday. As reported by ClickOnDetroit, Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Hugg discussed the cause of the explosion and testified that a grounding strap could have potentially reduced the risk of a static electric discharge, which is suspected as the likely cause of the fire.
According to details from CBS Detroit, the defense raised doubts about whether all relevant evidence had been tested, including examining samples from the oxygen tank for impurities. Hugg acknowledged, "That is correct," in response to questions on the matter. They stated it has not yet been analyzed, revealing the incomplete nature of the investigation.
No charging decisions were made by the judge amid these developments, and the hearing was set to resume on January 12, 2026. The four accused—Tamala Peterson, the CEO, along with Gary Marken, Jeffrey Mosteller, and Aleta Moffitt—are all facing second-degree homicide charges. Their involvement with the operation of the hyperbaric chamber, obviously lacking safety procedures, including the apparent omission of grounding straps, has been the center of scrutiny.
As reported by FOX 2 Detroit, a former technician testified about ignored safety concerns, including the missing grounding bracelets. "She told the court that she repeatedly warned the owner, Peterson, and safety director Mosteller, that patients were not being strapped with grounding bracelets," said FOX 2. Following these assertions, she was let go, adding to concerns about the operational integrity at the Oxford Center.
