Hearing: Expert testifies about ignored safety protocols in Troy hyperbaric chamber explosion death

Andrew Melnyczenko, the technical and safety director of the hyperbaric and altitude medicine program at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, who has nearly 30 years of experience in hyperbaric medicine, testified during the preliminary examination in the Oakland County hyperbaric explosion case. Tamela Peterson, 58, of Brighton, Jeffrey Mosteller, 65, of Clinton Township, Gary Marken, 66, of Spring Arbor and Aleta Moffitt, 60, of Rochester Hills, were charged after Thomas Cooper was killed when the hyperbaric chamber he was receiving treatment in exploded at the Oxford Center in Troy on Jan. 31, 2025. The boy’s mother was also injured in the explosion. Melnyczenko began his testimony in September, and continued with it on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2. He testified about safety protocols not being followed at the Oxford Center before Thomas' death, which include the absence of a safety check before patients go inside chambers and not using grounding wrist straps. Melnyczenko's testimony concluded Tuesday, but the rest of the hearing is scheduled to continue on Dec. 12, 2025.