Parents of boy in boot camp death wait for arrests

By: Sara Dorsey

St. Petersburg, Florida – Friday the Tampa medical examiner's office ruled Anderson died of suffocation due to the actions of the guards at the Bay County boot camp in January.

The case gained national attention when videotape of the incident was released.

53 days after the second autopsy on Martin Lee Anderson, the Hillsborough County medical examiner ruled the 14-year-old died not of sickle cell trait, but of suffocation when the Bay County boot camp guards covered his mouth and forced him to inhale ammonia fumes.

The Bay County Boot Camp was shut down in early April. A spokesperson says the guards were laid off.

Anderson's parents say they are still waiting for arrests in the case. The investigation is ongoing.

By: Dave Bohman

St. Petersburg, Florida – Word spread quickly among leaders of Bay Area civil rights leaders that the second autopsy in the Bay County boot camp death of 14-year-old Martin Anderson had been released.

Hillsborough County Chief Medical Examiner Vernard Adams found that Anderson died from being suffocated by boot camp guards.

St. Petersburg NAACP President Trenia Byrd Cox said she was satisfied by the new findings, though disappointed that what she called the slow pace of the investigation.

She never believed the initial autopsy that showed Anderson died of sickle cell trait.

Trenia Byrd Cox, St. Petersburg NAACP President:

“They finally realized that Martin Lee Anderson was murdered, and that six guards that are responsible for that murder along with the nurse. And now our next step should be with all deliberate speed, to charge those parties….six guards and the nurse with his death.”

Hillsborough County States Attorney Mark Ober has been named Special Prosecutor in the case, and it appears his next option is to decide who to charge, and what to charge them with.

Top state officials, and a leading critic of the case also weighed in on the autopsy report releasing statements.

Governor Jeb Bush:

“I am disturbed by (the findings) and consider the actions of the Bay County guards deplorable.”

Attorney General Charlie Crist:

“The medical examiner's report represents the first evidence-based indication that Martin's death was not by natural causes, and makes it even more compelling that unanswered questions be pursued as vigorously as possible.”

Ramon Alexander, Student who led April sit-in at Governor Bush's Office:

“The state should immediately revoke the license of the coroner who initially examined Martin and 'found' that his death was due to sickle cell trait and bring those who caused the death of this child to justice.”