A 5-year-old boy’s life was tragically cut short when a hyperbaric chamber exploded at a Michigan medical facility. Four individuals now face serious criminal charges including second-degree murder in a case that has shocked the community.
At a glance:
• Thomas Cooper, 5, died when a hyperbaric chamber exploded at The Oxford Center in Troy, Michigan on January 31
• Four people including the center’s Founder, Tamela Peterson, have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder
• The young boy was receiving treatment for sleep apnea and ADHD when the explosion occurred
• Thomas’s mother suffered burns while desperately trying to rescue her son from the fire
• Hyperbaric chambers contain high oxygen levels making them highly combustible environments
Medical Facility Executives Facing Murder Charges
Authorities in Troy, Michigan have arrested four individuals, including Tamela Peterson, the Founder and CEO of The Oxford Center, following the tragic death of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper. The young boy died after a hyperbaric chamber exploded on January 31, sparking immediate investigations into the facility’s safety protocols.
All four defendants face second-degree murder charges, with one also charged with involuntary manslaughter and falsifying medical records. The arrests come over a month after the incident, which occurred while Thomas was receiving treatment for sleep apnea and ADHD.
Police arrest 4 in connection to hyperbaric chamber fire that killed 5-year-old Michigan boy: report https://t.co/JSVh8zxGzS
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 11, 2025
Mother’s Heroic Rescue Attempt
Thomas’s mother, Annie Cooper, sustained burns while desperately attempting to save her son from the burning chamber. According to James Harrington of Fieger Law, “She was in the waiting room and was alerted that something wrong had happened. She rushed back to where her son was, and she tried and tried and tried to get him out and … was unable to.”
Harrington has been outspoken about the facility’s negligence, stating, “Under no circumstances … should anything ever like this happen and the only way this happens is negligence.” The Cooper family’s legal team plans to file a lawsuit to investigate all circumstances that led to Thomas’s death.
Four people were arrested and charged Monday in connection with the death of a 5-year-old boy who was killed in a hyperbaric chamber in Michigan this year, police say. https://t.co/iPcT6un5Y1
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 11, 2025
Regulation Questions and Industry Concerns
The Oxford Center has expressed surprise at the charges through their attorney, claiming, “The timing of these charges is surprising, as the typical protocol after a fire-related accident has not yet been completed. There are still outstanding questions about how this occurred.”
Fieger Law’s investigation suggests the facility was understaffed and lacked adequate emergency resources. The Cooper family’s attorney highlighted the lack of regulation in Michigan’s hyperbaric treatment industry, raising serious concerns about patient safety at such facilities.
Thomas, described in his obituary as “a curious, energetic, smart, outgoing, and thoughtful little boy,” was laid to rest on February 13. A GoFundMe campaign for the Cooper family has raised over $67,000 as the community mourns the loss of this young life.
The Troy Fire Department has emphasized the inherent danger of hyperbaric chambers, noting their high oxygen content creates a combustible environment. While these chambers are FDA-approved for treating specific conditions like burns and carbon monoxide poisoning, their use for other conditions remains controversial.
