Oxford Center safety director pleads no contest in fatal hyperbaric chamber explosion

Jeffrey Mosteller, safety director at the Oxford Center in Troy, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in connection with a hyperbaric chamber explosion that killed 5-year-old Thomas Cooper and severely injured his mother. Mosteller faces 19 months to 15 years in prison as part of a sentencing agreement, with a second-degree murder charge dropped, and sentencing set for August 31. The incident, which occurred on January 31, 2025, was linked to staff ignoring safety standards, and three other employees still face related criminal charges. The Cooper family has also filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the facility, its staff, and the chamber’s manufacturer.