Oxford Center CEO Charged After 5-Year-Old Dies in Chamber Explosion

Tamela Peterson, the CEO of the Oxford Center in Troy, was released from jail after posting a $2 million bond related to the January 31 explosion of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber that killed 5-year-old Thomas Cooper. Peterson, along with three employees, faces charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for allegedly disregarding safety protocols. The explosion occurred during Cooper's treatment session, injuring his mother as she attempted to rescue him. Investigators found that the center operated the hyperbaric chamber under unsafe conditions, leading to the incident. The Michigan Attorney General stated that the center was run purely for profit, ignoring vital safety measures, and that the chamber was being operated beyond its service lifetime. The next court hearing for the defendants is scheduled for April 30.