Four individuals are set to face trial in Michigan, charged with crimes connected to the tragic event that took the life of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper after an explosion of a hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center. As reported by the Michigan Attorney General's Office, the facility's owner and three employees each face serious charges. Owner Tamela Peterson, 58, and employees Jeffrey Mosteller, 64, and Gary Marken, 65, are looking at charges of Second-Degree Murder and Involuntary Manslaughter, while Aleta Moffitt, 60, also charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, faces an additional charge of intentionally placing false information on a medical chart.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's announcement, the incident occurred on January 31 at the facility in Troy, where hyperbaric oxygen therapy was administered to treat conditions such as autism, ADHD, and autoimmune diseases. It is alleged that the tragic incident followed a deliberate neglect of safety protocols published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Sechrist, the manufacturer of the chamber, protocols which are intended to prevent such disasters.
"When professionals entrusted with the care of our children abandon the standards meant to keep them safe, they must be held accountable," "I am relieved that this case will proceed to trial, where we will continue to pursue justice for Thomas and his family," said Attorney General Nessel in official statements made at the time of the charges' announcement in March 2025. While a date for the pretrial has not been determined, the gravity of the situation and the charges brought forth hang heavily on the community.
The tragic event has evidently sparked a conversation about the responsibility of health care providers and the measures necessary to prevent such occurrences from happening in the future. As Michigan prepares for the legal proceedings, Thomas Cooper's family awaits justice, and the case serves as a solemn reminder of the importance of adherence to safety protocols in medical treatments. As we learn more about the forthcoming trial and its developments, the collective hope for a just resolution remains at the forefront of our community's mind.
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