TAMPA, Fla. -- The state Medical Examiners Commission voted Wednesday to remove the Bay County medical examiner who performed a disputed autopsy on a teenager who died after an altercation with guards at a juvenile boot camp.

The commission voted to remove Dr. Charles Siebert from his post as medical examiner for six Panhandle counties, saying it had concerns about his honesty. Siebert performed the first autopsy on Martin Lee Anderson, who died after being roughed up by guards at the Panama City boot camp last year.

The same commission voted last month not to recommend Siebert's reappointment to Gov. Charlie Crist. His term expires June 27. A search for a new medical examiner for the district is under way.

Siebert was not present at the hearing and did not immediately return a telephone call to his office Wednesday.

A report presented to the commission said Siebert likely made several missteps in his initial assessment of Anderson's death.

Siebert ruled that the teen died of complications of sickle cell trait. But a second autopsy found he died as a result of the behavior of the guards who covered his mouth and held ammonia capsules to his nose. Siebert has stood by his initial opinion.

Eight people have been charged in Anderson's death. The Legislature last month awarded Anderson's family $5 million in compensation.

Last year, the commission, in an administrative complaint, found Siebert was negligent in performing 39 of 698 autopsies it reviewed.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/APN/706131817

Swanny note:

It is about time. This man is a criminal and there needs to be some criminal avenues that need to be traveled on.39 autopsies were not handled correctly. Does that mean that there were 39 murders?