Four Charged After Tragic Hyperbaric Chamber Explosion Kills 5-Year-Old Boy

A Michigan medical center is facing serious legal trouble after a tragic accident took the life of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper. The boy died on January 31 when the hyperbaric oxygen chamber he was inside exploded into flames at the Oxford Center. His mother, Annie Cooper, suffered severe burns while trying to save him.

Now, four employees of the facility have been charged in connection to his death. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says the staff prioritized profit over safety, leading to a disaster that could have been prevented.

Who’s Facing Charges?

• Tamela Peterson, 58, the center’s founder and CEO, is charged with second-degree murder.
• Gary Marken, 65, the facility manager, faces second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges.
• Gary Mosteller, 64, the safety manager, is also charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
• Aleta Moffitt, 60, the chamber operator, is accused of involuntary manslaughter and falsifying medical records.

What Went Wrong?

Officials say a single spark triggered the fire, which quickly engulfed the chamber, leaving Thomas no chance of survival. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a specialized treatment that requires strict safety measures, and investigators claim the facility failed to follow them.

Thomas had been receiving treatments for sleep apnea and ADHD, conditions not approved by the FDA for this type of therapy. According to the attorney general, insurance companies wouldn’t cover the treatments because they weren’t backed by medical science, making this a cash-driven business.

Legal Fallout

The suspects were arrested and appeared in court on Tuesday. Peterson’s bail was set at $2 million, while Marken and Mosteller received $250,000 bonds. Moffitt’s bond was set at $100,000. Some defense attorneys argue that these charges and high bond amounts are excessive, calling the explosion a tragic accident rather than a crime.

Firefighters arrived within minutes, but Thomas was already gone. The medical facility was shut down as authorities launched their investigation.

As the case moves forward, many are questioning how this tragedy was allowed to happen—and whether more should be done to regulate hyperbaric oxygen therapy.