Troy hyperbaric chamber explosion: Evidence discussed during hearing
Troy hyperbaric explosion: Judge hears arguments over possibly 'privileged information'
Tamela Peterson’s lawyer said laptops seized and reviewed by police after a deadly explosion at the Oxford Center may have contained privileged evidence between Peterson and attorneys.
TROY, Mich. (FOX 2) - Attorneys in a murder case against a Troy medical CEO were in court Monday to discuss what constitutes possibly privileged evidence.
Tamela Peterson’s lawyer said laptops seized and reviewed by police after a deadly explosion at the Oxford Center may have contained privileged evidence between Peterson and attorneys.
A judge ordered the attorneys to compile a list of search terms that would be used to filter possibly privileged information. If they cannot come to an agreement, the judge will decide on this matter.
The backstory:
Thomas Cooper was in a hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center in late January when it exploded, killing him and badly injuring his mother.
Several employees at the center are accused of ignoring safety guidelines and tampering with the equipment to make it appear newer than it was.
Months after the deadly blast, Peterson and three other employees of the Oxford Center were arrested and charged.
Hyperbaric chamber explosion: Nessel charges Oxford Center CEO, three others in boy's death
Experts on hyperbaric chamber and treatments were consulted for the investigation, and Nessel said "horrifying and simple conclusions were reached."
CEO and founder Tamela Peterson, her management assistant Gary Marken, and the center's safety manager Jeffrey Mosteller were all charged with second-degree murder, along with alternative counts of involuntary manslaughter, which would let a jury decide which charges fit the case.
A fourth Oxford Center worker, Aleta Moffitt, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false information on a medical record as a medical provider. Moffitt was the operator of the hyperbaric chamber at the time.
Dig deeper:
Experts on hyperbaric chamber treatments were consulted for the investigation, and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said "horrifying and simple conclusions were reached."
Nessel said the Oxford Center routinely operated sensitive and lethal, dangerous hyperbaric chambers beyond their expected service lifetime and in complete disregard of vital safety measures and practices considered essential by medical and technical professionals.
She called it a business that was purely for cash.
In addition to lacking property safety measures, Peterson is accused of interfering with the investigation and criticizing Cooper while he was on fire. Sources say Peterson allegedly shared CCTV photos of the boy and made disturbing comments about him.
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'He laid there and did nothing': Oxford Center CEO's alleged texts about boy's hyperbaric chamber death
Tamela Peterson allegedly shared CCTV photos of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper from the fire and included disturbing text messages that were critical of the child.
"If my leg was on fire, I would at least try to hit it and put it out. He just laid there and did nothing," Peterson allegedly said.
Magistrate Elizabeth Chiappelli made reference to the claim of Peterson sharing photos from inside the center when Peterson was arraigned.
What's next:
Another motion hearing is scheduled for July 14.
Peterson and the other suspects charged in connection with the explosion have preliminary examinations scheduled for September.
The Source: Previous FOX 2 stories were used in this report.