OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. — Four individuals face charges in relation to the tragic death of a 5-year-old boy in a hyperbaric chamber explosion at a health facility in Troy. A court date has been set for Monday, where the accused are expected to appear for a preliminary examination.
The incident occurred on January 31, 2025, when Thomas Cooper was killed and his mother suffered injuries during a routine treatment at the Oxford Center. The four charged include Tamela Peterson, 58, the center’s founder; Jeffrey Mosteller, 65, the safety manager; Gary Marken, 66, a management assistant; and Aleta Moffitt, 60, who allegedly operated the equipment during the explosion.
All four individuals are scheduled to appear in the 52-4 District Court on September 15 for their preliminary examinations. This process will assess whether there is sufficient evidence of felony charges to proceed to trial. Peterson, Mosteller, and Marken are charged with second-degree murder, with the alternative charge of involuntary manslaughter pending further judicial scrutiny. Moffitt faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and falsifying medical records.
The workers last convened in court on May 28 for hearings regarding probable cause. Since then, Peterson has attended several motion hearings, including a significant ruling where her request for an evidentiary hearing was denied. Nonetheless, she was initially allowed to return to her location at the Oxford Center in Brighton. However, her bond conditions tightened after allegations of violating firearm restrictions emerged, prompting the judge to reinforce prior stipulations.
Under the new conditions, Peterson must avoid contact with the victim’s family, her co-defendants, and return to either Oxford Center location. She is also required to wear a GPS tracker, surrender her passport, and forgo weapon possession. Her attorney, Gerald Gleeson, stated he is prepared to contest the allegations, maintaining a not guilty plea on behalf of Peterson.
Bond amounts were set at $2 million for Peterson, while Mosteller’s bond was adjusted from $250,000 to $50,000, and Marken’s bond was initially similar. Moffitt was granted a bond of $100,000. The other accused have since posted their bonds, while Peterson had sought a reduction that was denied. Eventually, she secured her release by posting the full bond amount.
The prosecution contends that the accused disregarded critical safety measures while operating hyperbaric chambers, which included failing to properly ground the equipment and using unsafe materials in the treatment area. The defendants are also alleged to have tampered with equipment to conceal operational deficiencies, contributing to what investigators describe as a “ticking time bomb” situation.
As proceedings unfold, the case raises grave concerns about safety protocols in medical facilities, prompting discussions on accountability in health care and the tragic consequences of negligence. Well ahead of the September court date, the community is left grappling with the implications of this devastating incident.