Listen To Story Above
Severe charges have been brought against four individuals linked to the tragic death of a 5-year-old boy in a hyperbaric chamber that erupted in flames at a Michigan clinic back in January. Thomas Cooper lost his life on January 31st at the Oxford Center in Troy, while his mother sustained burn injuries after the chamber unexpectedly caught fire.
The Oxford Center’s CEO Tami Peterson, safety director Jeff Mosteller, and primary manager Gary Marken have all been charged with second-degree murder, as reported by WXYZ-TV. Additionally, Aleta Moffitt, who operated the hyperbaric chamber, faces one count of involuntary manslaughter and intentionally providing false information on a medical record.
Today, @miattygen @dananessel announced charges against the owner and three employees at the Oxford Center in connection with the death of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper. pic.twitter.com/DIwSWyOilS
— Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (@MIAttyGen) March 11, 2025
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel stated, “This tragedy could have been prevented if proper safety protocols were followed. Instead, deliberate negligence and a blatant disregard for safety cost a child his life. I appreciate the investigatory efforts of the Troy Police Department. My office remains committed to seeking justice for Thomas and holding those responsible accountable.”
In response, the Oxford Center expressed disappointment at the charges filed, stating, “The timing of these charges is surprising, as the typical protocol after a fire-related accident has not yet been completed. There are still outstanding questions about how this occurred. Yet, the Attorney General’s office proceeded to pursue charges without those answers.”
James Harrington, the attorney representing the family, revealed that the boy had received multiple hyperbaric treatments for sleep apnea and attention deficit disorder, according to NBC. Harrington also mentioned that the family plans to file a lawsuit in addition to the criminal charges, describing the case as “very, very egregious.”
⚠️ WARNING: This post contains details of a tragic incident
Thomas Cooper, 5, died on January 31 when a hyperbaric oxygen chamber he was inside exploded at the Oxford Center, a medical facility in Michigan. His mother, Annie Cooper, suffered severe burns while attempting to… pic.twitter.com/gxHFf9svfy
— True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) March 15, 2025
“A single spark it appears ignited into a fully involved fire that claimed Thomas’s life within seconds,” Nessel said, according to the Associated Press. “Because these treatments were so medically unsound, patient insurance policies would not cover the use of these chambers to treat these conditions. This business was a pure cash-flow, for-profit business.”
Hyperbaric treatment, approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating severe burns, wounds, and decompression sickness, provides an individual with five times the normal level of oxygen. However, the FDA’s list of approved treatments does not include the conditions for which the Oxford Center used hyperbaric therapy.
Nessel further stated that on the day of the boy’s death, no maintenance check was performed, no medical doctor was present, and treatment was not being led by a licensed technician.
