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Another family claims examiner hid a homicide

Already under fire in a boot camp death case, Bay County's medical examiner is accused of a 1977 coverup.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 26, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - The medical examiner who ruled that a teenager kicked and struck by boot camp guards died of a blood disorder is being accused by another family of covering up a 1977 fatal beating by police officers.

Bay County Medical Examiner Charles Siebert covered up the homicide by ruling that Michael Niesen died of injuries from a car accident, says a complaint filed with the state by John Niesen, Michael's brother.

Siebert is facing a similar accusation by the family of Martin Lee Anderson, a 14-year-old who died in January after collapsing at a boot camp operated by the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

A security videotape shows guards beating up Anderson, but Siebert ruled after an autopsy that the boy died of sickle cell disorder.

After Gov. Jeb Bush asked Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober to take over the investigation of the case, an autopsy performed by another medical examiner in March concluded that Anderson died of suffocation from having ammonia pills forced up his nose while his mouth was covered. Ober's investigation is continuing.

John Niesen detailed the latest accusation in a news conference also attended by members of Anderson's family.

He acknowledged that his brother was ejected from a vehicle the night of his death, but said angry police officers then fatally beat Michael. He showed an autopsy photo of his brother, who had large cuts and bruises on his head, to support his story.

The families urged Florida's medical examiners commission to revoke Siebert's license.

Siebert on Thursday again stood by his findings in both cases and said the accusations are untrue.

[Last modified May 26, 2006, 06:15:38]