US boot camp staff charged in teen’s death

Jim Loney

Eight former staff members of a Florida juvenile boot camp have been charged with manslaughter in the death of a 14-year-old boy whose beating by guards was captured on videotape, prosecutors said today.

Seven guards and a nurse were charged on Monday in the death of Martin Lee Anderson nearly 11 months ago at the Bay County boot camp in Panama City, which was later shut down.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who was accused of a cover-up by Anderson’s parents last week, welcomed the long-awaited results of an investigation by a special prosecutor he appointed, and said he hoped “justice will be served” in the Anderson case.

“We also hope that when the process is completed, Martin Lee Anderson’s family will have the answers to the questions they legitimately have,” Bush said.

Anderson, arrested for joyriding in his grandmother’s car, collapsed during an exercise drill on January 5, a few hours after he arrived at the detention centre for young offenders. He died at a hospital the next day.

A medical examiner initially ruled that he died of natural causes, a decision that sparked outrage from the boy’s parents and Florida politicians after publication of the videotape, which showed uniformed guards surrounding him, with some holding him against a tree while others appeared to hit him.

The boy repeatedly fell to his knees, only to have the guards pull him up by the arms and try to make him walk.

A second autopsy found the boy died of suffocation because his mouth was blocked and he was forced to inhale ammonia fumes, which resulted in a blockage in his airway. Ammonia is used in smelling salts to revive unconscious or semi-conscious people.

The medical examiner said he died “due to actions of the guards.”

Charged with aggravated manslaughter are guards Henry Dickens, 60, Charles Enfinger, 33, Patrick Garrett, 30, Raymond Hauck, 48, Charles Helms, 50, Henry McFadden, 33, Joseph Walsh, 35, and camp nurse Kristin Schmidt, 53.

They could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

The Anderson case sparked demonstrations in the state capital and a sit-in at the governor’s office. It prompted Florida to scrap its teen boot camps, where drill instructors imposed military discipline on unruly youths, and open juvenile facilities focused on education and counselling.

Anderson’s family filed a lawsuit against state and local agencies in July, seeking $40 million in damages.

The case also contributed to the resignation of Guy Tunnell, then-commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who was criticised for sending supportive e-mails to the Bay County sheriff while his department was investigating Anderson’s death.