Pathologist: Beating caused boot camp death

Expert hired by teen's family says blood disorder was not the cause

TAMPA, Fla. - Prosecutors confirmed Tuesday that a 14-year-old boy who was beaten by guards in a juvenile boot camp did not die of a blood disorder as a medical examiner initially ruled.

Pam Bondi, a spokeswoman for Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober, who is investigating the death of Martin Lee Anderson, declined to comment further on the case except to say it will be “months” before the probe is complete.

She confirmed statements from Dr. Michael Baden, a noted pathologist who observed the second autopsy that was conducted on the teenager’s body.

Baden said Tuesday that results from a second autopsy seem to indicate a 14-year-old boy died from a beating by guards at a juvenile boot camp, not from a blood disorder as a medical examiner initially ruled.

“My opinion is that he died because of what you see in the videotape,” said Dr. Michael Baden, referring to a surveillance tape showing guards kicking and punching Martin Lee Anderson’s limp body the day before he died.

After seeing the videotape, the boy’s parents agreed to have his body exhumed and asked Baden to observe a second autopsy.

“I’m just glad the truth is out,” Anderson’s mother, Gina Jones, said Tuesday. “But I already knew what the truth was. Now that the truth is out, and I want justice. I want the guards and the nurse to be arrested.”

Several weeks for analysis
Baden, who was hired by the boy’s family, said it would be several weeks before the medical examiner in charge of the second autopsy, Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Dr. Vernard Adams, determines the exact cause of death because tissue samples must be analyzed and other evidence considered.

But Baden said it was clear that Anderson did not die from sickle cell trait.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11823529/

FDLE Boot Camp footage
Press release from State Attorney Mark A. Ober
Statement from Gov. Jeb Bush
The Martin Lee Anderson Family discusses the result of a 2nd autopsy