Feds Investigate Teen Death at Boot Camp

A second autopsy report in the death of a 14-year-old—who died after being restrained and hit by Florida boot camp workers—shows that the boy’s death was NOT the result of natural causes, as the first autopsy indicated.  This new information has prompted the federal government’s launch of an investigation to determine if criminal activity at the boot camp contributed to the young man’s untimely death.

The first autopsy, which was performed by the Bay County medical examiner, showed that the teen athlete’s death was attributable to complications from a sickle cell anemia trait.  Martin Lee Anderson had never been previously diagnosed with sickle cell anemia.  While attorneys for Anderson’s family believe the examiner made a potentially unbiased mistake, the possibility of racial bias and outside pressures could have influenced his report. 

A Florida state attorney, who is leading the investigation into Anderson’s death, ordered the second autopsy report.  In a 12-hour autopsy investigation, independent examiners found that Anderson did NOT die of sickle cell.  According to officials, “The preliminary findings indicate the boy did not die from sickle cell, nor did he die from natural causes.” 

The US Attorney’s Office reports they are conducting a federal probe to determine whether Anderson’s civil rights were violated by use of excessive force.  A videotape of Anderson at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Boot Camp for juvenile offenders shows Anderson being beaten from behind, including the knees and thighs, and punched in the arms and ears.   He was also subject to several takedown methods.  Anderson complained of breathing difficulties that day. 

Though no official criminal charges have been made in this boot camp death, the juvenile detention facility has been shut down.  The eight people involved in Anderson’s beating were not offered new jobs with the sheriff’s department.