Boy at Boot Camp Died "Naturally"
Boy at boot camp died ‘natural death’
Coroner: Death caused by sickle cell anemia, not injuries from guards
PANAMA CITY, Fla. - A teenager at a state-run boot camp died from a blood disorder and not from any injuries he may have suffered while being restrained by guards, a medical examiner reported Thursday.
Martin Lee Anderson’s family contends he died from injuries suffered in a confrontation with guards.
Anderson suffered internal bleeding because he had sickle cell trait, a disorder that caused his red blood cells to change shape and produce “a whole cascade of events” that led to hemorrhaging, said Bay County Medical Examiner Dr. Charles Siebert.
“It was a natural death,” he said.
Medical forms filed at the boot camp did not indicate that the youth or his family were aware of the disorder, which affects about one of every eight black people, Siebert said. The sickle cell disorder would not show up in routine blood tests, he said.
Anderson entered the camp Jan. 5 because of an arrest for theft. He complained of breathing difficulties and collapsed during exercises that were part of the entry process. He died the next day at a Pensacola hospital.
Dueling stories
The sheriff’s office, which runs the camp, said Anderson became uncooperative and was restrained. The boy’s mother alleges he was killed by guards who beat him to death.
Siebert said there were some bruises and abrasions on the boy’s body, but he attributed those to attempts to resuscitate the youth.
The Anderson family’s attorney, Benjamin Crump, was skeptical of the autopsy results and expressed doubt that the sickle cell trait, if it existed, could cause such extensive damage to the teenager’s internal organs.
Also Thursday, the Justice Department announced it would investigate the case, along with the FBI. Federal officials planned to focus on whether camp guards violated Anderson’s rights through use of excessive force or “indifference to serious medical need,” U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Miller said.
On Friday, law enforcement officials planned to make public a videotape that allegedly shows guards beating Anderson. News organizations filed a lawsuit seeking the video.
Boy at boot camp died ‘natural death’
Coroner: Death caused by sickle cell anemia, not injuries from guards
PANAMA CITY, Fla. - A teenager at a state-run boot camp died from a blood disorder and not from any injuries he may have suffered while being restrained by guards, a medical examiner reported Thursday.
Martin Lee Anderson’s family contends he died from injuries suffered in a confrontation with guards.
Anderson suffered internal bleeding because he had sickle cell trait, a disorder that caused his red blood cells to change shape and produce “a whole cascade of events” that led to hemorrhaging, said Bay County Medical Examiner Dr. Charles Siebert.
“It was a natural death,” he said.
Medical forms filed at the boot camp did not indicate that the youth or his family were aware of the disorder, which affects about one of every eight black people, Siebert said. The sickle cell disorder would not show up in routine blood tests, he said.
Anderson entered the camp Jan. 5 because of an arrest for theft. He complained of breathing difficulties and collapsed during exercises that were part of the entry process. He died the next day at a Pensacola hospital.
Dueling stories
The sheriff’s office, which runs the camp, said Anderson became uncooperative and was restrained. The boy’s mother alleges he was killed by guards who beat him to death.
Siebert said there were some bruises and abrasions on the boy’s body, but he attributed those to attempts to resuscitate the youth.
The Anderson family’s attorney, Benjamin Crump, was skeptical of the autopsy results and expressed doubt that the sickle cell trait, if it existed, could cause such extensive damage to the teenager’s internal organs.
Also Thursday, the Justice Department announced it would investigate the case, along with the FBI. Federal officials planned to focus on whether camp guards violated Anderson’s rights through use of excessive force or “indifference to serious medical need,” U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Miller said.
On Friday, law enforcement officials planned to make public a videotape that allegedly shows guards beating Anderson. News organizations filed a lawsuit seeking the video.
Boy, what a confusing story. You don't which version to believe. Thank you Taylor for giving us some insight on what you saw. The parent's though had to be very disturbed to see that video tape, and I truly hope that things get resolved for everyone involved.