Suffocation blamed in boy’s death

TAMPA, Fla. – A 14-year-old boy kicked and punched by guards at a juvenile boot camp died because the sheriff’s officials suffocated him, a medical examiner said Friday, contradicting a colleague who blamed the death on a usually benign blood disorder.

“Martin Anderson’s death was caused by suffocation due to actions of the guards at the boot camp,” said Dr. Vernard Adams, who conducted the new autopsy.

Adams said the suffocation was caused by hands blocking the boy’s mouth, as well as the “forced inhalation of ammonia fumes” that caused his vocal cords to spasm, blocking his upper airway. The guards had said that they used ammonia capsules to keep Anderson conscious.

The autopsy report draws no conclusions about whether Anderson’s death was a homicide.

Anderson collapsed while doing push-ups, sit-ups, running laps and other exercises that were part of his admission process at the camp.

Anderson’s body was exhumed after a camp surveillance videotape surfaced showing the guards roughing him up Jan. 5, a day before he died. His family had questioned the initial finding by Dr. Charles Siebert, the Bay County medical examiner, that the boy died of complications of sickle cell trait.

The death sparked protests at the state Capitol, forced lawmakers to scrap the military-style camps and led to the resignation of the state’s top law enforcement officer.

“I am disturbed by Dr. Adams’ findings and consider the actions of the Bay County boot camp guards deplorable,” said Gov. Jeb Bush, who ordered the probe that led to the second autopsy.