A Michigan family is demanding justice after their 5-year-old son was killed in a horrific medical facility fire that turned an oxygen chamber into what attorneys called a “human incinerator.”
Thomas Cooper, 5, from Royal Oak, was strapped into a pressurized oxygen chamber on January 31 at the Oxford Center in Troy when a spark ignited, causing a blaze that killed him within seconds.
His mother, Juana Cooper, who was inside the room, tried desperately to rescue him but was injured in the attempt. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene.
Legal filings stated Thomas’s death was “not a tragic accident” and accused the defendants of “corporate greed.”
Murder Charges Filed
In March, Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against four people tied to the center, calling the tragedy “a fully involved fire that claimed Thomas’s life within seconds.”
- Tamela Peterson, 58, the founder and CEO, was charged with second-degree murder.
- Gary Marken, 65, facility manager, was charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
- Gary Mosteller, 64, safety manager, was also charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
- Aleta Moffitt, 60, the operator of the chamber that day, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false medical information on a medical records chart.
All four pleaded not guilty, with defense lawyers insisting the fire was a “tragic accident.”
A $100 Million Lawsuit
On Monday, Fieger Law filed a $100 million civil lawsuit on behalf of Thomas’s parents, James and Juana. The suit names both the Oxford Center and Sechrist Industries, the chamber manufacturer, accusing them of knowingly placing patients in deadly danger.
“The defendants knew with absolute certainty that if a fire occurred in one of its chambers, the patient inside would be burned alive, with zero chance of survival,” the filing states.
Attorneys claim the chamber’s design made an emergency escape impossible, and that both the facility and manufacturer continued to profit from treatments despite limited FDA approvals and an FDA statement noting reports of serious injuries and deaths with HBOT devices.
“A Death Chamber”
Legal filings alleged that the center advertised hyperbaric treatment for over 100 conditions, including ADHD, autism, and epilepsy, despite limited FDA approvals. A nurse at the center had stated the goals of Thomas’s treatment were to address ADHD symptoms, hyperactivity, sleep, and overall health.
But lawyers argue that once the fire started, the boy’s fate was sealed: “In essence, it becomes a death chamber.”
The lawsuit further claims that the chamber’s pressurized design meant the door could not be opened until it slowly decompressed, leaving Thomas trapped.
Calls for Accountability
During a press conference, Fieger attorney James Harrington said the case is about far more than negligence: “These machines are a problem. We were able to get the facility padlocked through a court order so no one could tamper with evidence.”
He added that another death linked to a similar machine has already been reported in the U.S. since Thomas’s passing.
Thomas’s parents, who are now suing for justice and accountability, say their son’s death was both preventable and foreseeable.
“He was burned to death over the course of minutes,” their legal filing states. “Young Thomas Cooper paid the ultimate price for the defendants’ corporate greed.”
As the criminal trial looms and the civil lawsuit unfolds, the case has renewed scrutiny of hyperbaric therapy and oversight of such facilities.
