A safety director at a Michigan medical facility has been sentenced to prison following the death of five-year-old Thomas Cooper, who died after the hyperbaric chamber he was being treated in caught fire.
What happened
Thomas was undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the Oxford Center in Troy, Michigan, on 31 January 2025, treatment intended to help with ADHD and sleep apnea, when the chamber caught fire. It was his 36th session in the device. His mother, Annie, attempted to save him and suffered significant burns herself in the process. Thomas did not survive.
A hyperbaric chamber is a medical device that delivers pressurised, pure oxygen to patients for therapeutic purposes. The family had reportedly paid more than $8,000 for a course of 40 treatments.
The sentencing
Jeffrey Mosteller, the facility's safety director, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and has been sentenced to between 19 months and 15 years in prison. He is the first of four staff members charged in connection with Thomas's death to be sentenced.
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwamé Rowe was direct in his remarks while sentencing Mosteller, describing the failures at the facility as arrogance. The case centred on the facility's use of grounding straps, safety equipment designed to prevent sparks inside the chamber. Rowe told Mosteller it had been his responsibility to speak up about the missing equipment.
Assistant Michigan Attorney General Chris Kessel argued that Mosteller and others at the facility had disregarded established safety protocols set by the National Fire Protection Association and the chamber's manufacturer, accusing them of believing they knew better than the doctors, scientists, and engineers behind those guidelines.
Mosteller's defence
Mosteller's legal team argued the facility had stopped using the grounding straps before he began working there, though they acknowledged he failed to correct the issue once he became aware of it. His attorney told the court they didn't believe for a moment that he thought he was putting Thomas's life at risk, describing a close relationship between Mosteller and the boy, saying Thomas was always excited to see him.
Mosteller did not address the court before sentencing. Thomas's family also did not speak, with prosecutors saying the loss remains too painful for them to discuss publicly.
Where the case stands
Three other staff members at the facility still face criminal charges: CEO Tamela Peterson, manager Gary Marken, and chamber operator Aleta Moffitt. A separate civil case has also been brought by Thomas's family.
