TROY, Mich. – A judge is deliberating whether four defendants, including the CEO of The Oxford Center, will face trial in connection with a fatal hyperbaric chamber explosion that killed a 5-year-old boy in Troy.
--> CEO, 3 other workers charged in Oakland County hyperbaric chamber explosion to appear in court
Following a lengthy preliminary hearing on Monday (Sept. 15), prosecutors presented testimony alleging safety protocols were disregarded at the facility where Thomas Cooper died in January.
Tamela Peterson, the center’s CEO, Gary Marken, the facility manager, Jeffrey Mosteller, the safety director, and Aleta Moffitt face charges related to Cooper’s death at The Oxford Center’s Troy location.
During Monday’s hearing, prosecutors called Tiffany Hosey, a former Oxford Center employee, to testify.
Hosey, who worked at the center’s Brighton location until April 2024, testified she was terminated after raising safety concerns to management.
“My primary concern was that we were not putting grounding straps on patients going into the hyperbaric chamber,” Hosey testified.
When questioned about the significance, Hosey explained, “The purpose is to reduce the risk of fire.”
Hosey further testified that in a mono-placed chamber, a fire would result in death.
Defense attorneys challenged Hosey’s testimony during cross-examination, questioning why she continued working at the facility despite her safety concerns.
“For nearly four years, you continued your employment at the Oxford Center despite these safety concerns you had, correct?” a defense attorney asked, to which Hosey responded, “Correct.”
The hearing will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at 9 a.m., with additional testimony expected from hyperbaric chamber experts and the police detective assigned to the case.