Oxford Center Safety Manager Sentenced to Prison After Boy Dies in Hyperbaric Chamber Explosion

POLICY WIRE — Oakland County, USA — A former safety manager has been ordered to serve more than a year in prison following the death of a 5-year-old boy in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber explosion last year.

Jeffrey Mosteller, 66, appeared in Oakland County circuit court on Monday, where he entered a no-contest plea to a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

The court sentenced Mosteller to 19 months of incarceration, a significantly lower term than the 15-year maximum penalty he could have faced.

Mosteller previously oversaw safety at the Oxford Center, an alternative health facility providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy to children dealing with autoimmune diseases, ADHD, and autism.

The victim, Thomas Cooper of Royal Oak, a Detroit suburb, died in January 2025 after a fire ignited inside the chamber, leading to an explosion during his treatment.

Legal authorities allege that the facility showed a deliberate disregard for safety guidelines established by Sechrist Industries, the equipment manufacturer, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Mosteller is one of four former staff members facing criminal charges related to the fatality.

Facility owner Tamela Peterson and primary management assistant Gary Marken are both facing single counts of either involuntary manslaughter or second-degree murder.

Additionally, Aleta Moffitt, who operated the chamber, was charged with one count of falsifying medical records for allegedly inputting incorrect data on a patient’s chart.

While Mosteller has reached a plea, the other three former employees have pleaded not guilty and are currently awaiting their trials.

Depending on his behavior during incarceration, Mosteller could face further prison time or be denied parole after his 19-month term.

His lawyer, Alona Sharon, stated that she expects his conduct to be stellar and hopes he is released at the 19-month mark.

The Michigan Attorney General’s Office did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment.

Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the plea deal with Mosteller back in July.

“A young child lost his life in a completely preventable tragedy because this defendant allowed an outdated device to operate in defiance of safety standards,” Nessel said in a statement.

Nessel added that while the conviction cannot undo the loss, she hopes it brings a sense of justice to the family of Thomas Cooper.

In a separate legal action, the parents of the child have filed a civil suit against Sechrist and the Oxford Center, seeking $100 million in damages.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)