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LANSING – Today, the owner and three employees at the Oxford Center were bound over to stand trial in the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County on felony charges in connection with the death of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Owner Tamela Peterson, 58, of Brighton, Safety Manager Jeffrey Mosteller, 64, of Clinton Township, and Gary Marken, 65, of Spring Arbor, the primary management assistant at the facility, were bound over on one count of Second-Degree Murder, a potential life offense, or alternatively, one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, a 15-year felony. Aleta Moffitt, 60, of Rochester Hills, the operator of the hyperbaric chamber, was bound over on one count of Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of Medical Records – Intentionally Placing False Information on Chart, a four-year felony. Attorney General Nessel announced these charges in March 2025.
The Oxford Center, located in Troy, provided therapy for children with various health conditions, including autism, ADHD, and autoimmune diseases, through Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. On January 31, while Cooper was undergoing treatment, the hyperbaric chamber caught fire from the inside and exploded. Both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Sechrist, the manufacturer of the hyperbaric chamber, publish strict safety protocols that must be followed before treatment. However, it is alleged that these standards were deliberately discarded at the time of Cooper’s death.
“When professionals entrusted with the care of our children abandon the standards meant to keep them safe, they must be held accountable,” said Attorney General Nessel. “I am relieved that this case will proceed to trial, where we will continue to pursue justice for Thomas and his family.”
A pretrial date has not yet been set.
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Please note: For all criminal proceedings, a criminal charge is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Department does not provide booking photos.
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