Death at Boot Camp

Young Martin Lee Anderson, 14, recently died while attending a juvenile boot camp held within Panama City, Florida.  An enhanced video by NASA shows seven former guards and a nurse standing by as Martin Anderson was held down, and was struck repeatedly with the guard’s fist.  They were also seen holding what appears to be a white cloth to his face.   The nurse present has stated that she examined his vital signs which appeared normal, early into the incident. Though, the video does not show her checking his vitals until 27 minutes time pasted from the start of the tape, which holds the unpleasant incident in full.  The guards and the nurse, who pleaded not guilty to aggravated manslaughter, could potentially face up to 30 years in prison.

Elements of Aggravated Manslaughter:

• that the defendant caused the victim’s death
• that the defendant did so recklessly
• that the defendant did so under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life
  

• If you need legal assistance with Wrongful Death Claim, please consult with a Wrongful Death Lawyer near you to discuss the details of your case. The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only.

The original autopsy uncovered that Anderson died from complications due to a sickle cell trait.  The family protested for another autopsy, claiming the existence of sickle cell was a cover up.  The second autopsy revealed that Anderson was in fact suffocated by the guards’ hands over his mouth with the white cloth, forcing him to inhale ammonia fumes. The senior Democrat on the House Education Committee, Representative George Miller, issued the following statement today on the U.S. Justice Department’s announcement:

“Today, hundreds of boot camps – both public and private – operate nationwide. The Bay County, Florida, Sheriff’s Department facility where Anderson died was publicly managed and operated, and it was licensed by the state. Hundreds of privately-run boot camps – sometimes called ‘behavior modification facilities’ – are not licensed or regulated at all, and a number of allegations of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse have been made against those programs by children and their parents. Deaths have also been reported. It is clear that where no licensing standards exist, they must be instituted; and where they are too weak, they must be strengthened. And no federal dollars should support facilities that fail to meet anything but the highest standards.

“This investigation should be the beginning of a serious, aggressive, and comprehensive effort by federal agencies and the Congress to make sure that children are totally safe when they are sent – either by the state or by their parents – to residential programs. No program should operate in the United States without meeting minimum standards, without regulations, or with poorly trained or abusive staff. Martin Lee Anderson’s death was a terrible tragedy. We must not allow his death to be in vain.”

• If you need legal assistance with Wrongful Death Claim, please consult with a Wrongful Death Lawyer near you to discuss the details of your case. The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only.

Have an Injury Case?

Get Your Case Reviewed. Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer Now

Want to Learn More?

Check out Nolo's Do-It-Yourself Resources

How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim

Win Your Lawsuit

Represent Yourself in Court

eBook - $32.99 | Book & eBook - $34.99

eBook - $37.99 | Book & eBook - $39.99

eBook - $37.99 | Book & eBook - $39.99