More Questions Than Answers: Investigation Widens In Florida Teen's Boot Camp Death
Published May 07, 2006
A 14-year old Florida teen who died in a Florida boot camp had his second autopsy report released to the public Thursday.
Martin Anderson died on January 6. The autopsy and investigation concluded that he was strangled by a security guard blocking the boy's mouth. The medical examiner, Dr. Vernard Adams, also reported that Anderson was forced to inhale ammonia, which caused Anderson's vocal cords to spasm, contributing to his death.
The first autopsy, performed by Dr. Charles F. Siebert in Bay County, determined that Anderson had died of sickle-cell disease. However, Florida law requires autopsies to be performed in the same county where the body died, and the boy was re-examined.
The questions in this case are endless. Why were the security guards beating him at all? Why did a nurse, who witnessed the beating, just walk away and not say or report anything?
Three people have died in Florida boot camps in the past three years. A criminal investigation is underway for this case. Another question is, why now? Why wasn't Florida investigating and closing down other camps where the same thing has occurred? A simple answer, I suppose, is that the other camps had no taped evidence; in the Martin Anderson case, there was such proof.
No one deserves to be beaten to death under any circumstances, ever. This boy was sent to boot camp by the court for taking a joyride in his grandmother's car. Was it a bad thing to do? Yes. Was it an illegal thing to do? Yes. Regardless, anyone who does something wrong, whether it's Rodney King on cocaine in the middle of a high speed chase or a boy who just stole $500 from the local 7-11, does not deserve to be beaten. Let alone minors.
Jeb Bush, Florida Attorney General Charlie Christ, and boot camp officials: you should be ashamed of yourselves. You didn't do anything the first time this happened, and you're not doing anything now. Close down the boot camp, fire the security guards who were in charge of this cruel act and charge them with murder. There's no other way to go about this. Do your job.
- More Questions Than Answers: Investigation Widens In Florida Teen's Boot Camp Death
- Published: May 07, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Culture: Crime and Court, Culture: Society
- Writer: Casey Lunkley
- Casey Lunkley's BC Writer page
- Casey Lunkley's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
Looks like this whole incident is going to be swept under the rug. So far....not a single word on charges for the guards or management where this child was murdered.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/47334)
THIS BEATING IS SCARY! I HAVE AN 11 YR OLD SON WHO'S GOING TO A BOOT CAMP IN JULY IN ARIZONA. THE IDEA OF THE BOOT CAMP IS TO GIVE THE CHILD A REALITY CHECK, SO THE CHILD CAN REALIZE THERE ARE POSITIVE OPTIONS FOR THEM, INSTEAD OF GETTING INTO GANGS, DRUGS, ETC. THIS STORY BREAKS MY HEART. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE TERRIBLE GRIEF THIS FAMILY MUST FEEL. THEIR CHILD WAS SENT THERE TO STRAIGHTEN UP, NOT TO DIE AT THE HANDS OF SOME SICK GUARDS. I HOPE THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED HERE, THAT THOSE GAURDS ARE FIRED AND CHARGED WITH MURDER. SOMEBODY'S CHILD HAS DIED HERE AND EXTREME MEASURES NEED TO BE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES'T TAKE ANOTHER CHILD'S LIFE. THERE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY DEATHS, MUCH LESS THREE, EVER!