State: Eight charged in teen's boot camp death

Eight people face charges of aggravated manslaughter of a person under 18 in the death of Martin Lee Anderson, a Bay County teen who died at a Panama City boot camp, according to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office.

Those charged include seven boot camp guards and the camp's nurse, prosecutors say. The charges came Tuesday after months of investigation by Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober.

Ober said all of the guards have been arrested and booked in Bay County jail. The nurse was working and was asked to turn herself in later today.

"We hope at the end of the day justice will be served," said Gov. Jeb Bush, who appointed Ober to investigate. "We also hope that when the process is completed that Martin Lee Anderson's family will have the answers to the questions that they legitimately have."

Anderson, 14, collapsed and died Jan. 5 after being roughed up by guards at a Panama City boot camp.

At a news conference Tuesday in Tallahassee, Martin Anderson's mother, Gina Jones, said she was pleased with the charges.

"This is a good day for me. I'm finally getting justice for my baby," she said.

Her attorney, Ben Crump, said that Mark Ober acted with "great courage" in bringing the charges.

"We know were a long way from a conviction but this is a huge step today," Crump said.

The initial autopsy found that Anderson died of complications of sickle cell trait, a blood disease; but a second autopsy conducted during Ober's investigation determined that Anderson's death was caused by suffocation.

"Despite its complexity and magnitude, we have conducted a timely, thorough and ethical investigation,'' Ober said. "In doing so, we have rightfully ignored repeated demands calling for a rush to judgment. To have done otherwise would have politicized my investigation and denied Martin Anderson the justice he deserves."

Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Charles Helms Jr., Henry McFadden Jr., Kristin Schmidt and Joseph Walsh II each face one count of aggravated manslaughter, a first degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Bob Pell, an attorney who represents former guard Joseph Walsh II, said he hadn't heard about charge against his client.

"I didn't anticipate it. I was hoping cooler heads would prevail, but we will deal with this as it comes down. We understood the political pressure that was brought to bear," he said.

Nor did Ober find fault with former FDLE Commissioner Guy Tunnell and Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen, who traded e-mails discussing the case while it was under investigation by the FDLE. Tunnell had formerly held McKeithen’s job and started the boot camp there in 1994.

“FDLE conducted this investigation in the same manner that it would conduct any other investigation, and Tunnell’s personal relationship with the (sheriff’s office) and Bay County Boot Camp did not affect the work of the FDLE investigations,” Ober wrote in a letter to Gov. Bush.

And Bay County State Attorney Steve Meadows, who acknowledged deleting e-mails related to the case, “did not attempt to hide information pertinent to the investigation,” Ober concluded.

Anderson's family has sued the state Department of Juvenile Justice and the Bay County Sheriff's Office, seeking more than $40 million in damages.

Former state Rep. Gus Barreiro, one of two South Florida lawmakers who saw the video and exposed its existence to the news media, said, “When I first saw it, I knew it wasn’t simply a kid collapsing on a field. No criminal charges or convictions will ever bring this young man back. But people who work with kids in the system have to understand that if you mistreat a child you will be held accountable.”

Share your thoughts on this story

Read our guidelines for comments

Comments on this article

by Cieraa	01/25/08 10:13 AM
Its really sad, they dont care that this african-american family is suffering because their child is gone. That is the worst, to loose your child, especially at a young age. I think that it was a racism thing because till this day racism still exis

by kevita	10/24/07 02:49 PM
i think this is the worst thing that i have ever heard.being a teen who went though bootcamp myself and had issue with the sgt i feel for hi and his family. kevita wickware black and proud

by Taneda	10/13/07 10:23 PM
This is a sad matter, there are A too many ignorant comments on this article. SOMEONE'S CHILD IS DEAD. His death is unjust, unlawful and completely uncalled for. No matter what he was saying to any one that does not give anyone the right to kill him

by brnogal	10/10/07 03:05 PM
I thnk d kid collapsed 'cos d pressure put on his neck proly stopped d blood gng 2 his brain! It caused him 2 pass out! Tht technique is also used in martial arts...if used 2much 4 2long (like d taser gun) it can be fatal! Ppl shd know dat by now!!

by lisa	10/10/07 08:25 AM
if this is the way you try to make are kids better aldults,same on you, and all that was invloed in this teens death, makes me sick. a mother 45, of twin boys that are 18.speek up people....

by bill	10/08/07 10:29 PM
i watched the tape and did not see anyone get beat.all the tape showed was officers trying to restrain a combatant criminal.

by Ricky	10/03/07 11:27 AM
Funny what a double standard this is - as it always is with the police. If a civilian were to beat a 14 year old kid to death we would be facing the death penalty; for the cops it's always the least possible enforcement action. Welcome to Amerika!!

by john	09/24/07 06:36 PM
Typical brutality seen everyday in todays culture of elite police. Police are necessary to maintain our peoples rule of law, and we have many fine police today. These guards may not be police but they have adopted the attitude of Elite Police,

by shequila	09/06/07 08:06 PM
i am just saddened by this tragedy , they were supposed to be the people who protect us , 'protect and serve' " what" are you freakin serious when i seen this video i lost all my trust in any cop that i ever had , they shall pay the price!!!

by dee	07/16/07 02:27 PM
it dosen't just happen in boot camps, specifically all prisions in the state of florida. be aware for your own family safety if they should make a mistake and be improsioned in the state of FLORIDA.

by Eloise	04/07/07 05:28 PM
Pitiful that few of you think a kid should die for just stealing a car. How would you feel if that were your kid? Consider how you would want your own child treated.

by Eloise	04/07/07 05:22 PM
This death is appalling. This young man and video of the beating have been on my mind since the day I first saw it on TV. The nurse especially probably a mother and the men should be executed for this type of violence against a child. But will it be?

by jessica	03/09/07 10:01 AM
that was wrong what they did to your son i cry all night about that .i watch the tape too that was sad sorry for what happened to your son

by linda	02/28/07 11:31 PM
just an additional thought. i hope anyone involved with this murder and subsequent coverup will suffer the same as Martin Lee Anderson, i.e., be horribly beaten up, have ammonia capsules stuffed up their nose, punched, kneed, and left to die.

by BELINDA	02/13/07 02:40 AM
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15-25 IS STAYING OUT OF PRISON & NOT BE MURDERED. IT IS SAD THAT OUR CHILDREN LIVES IS EITHER THREATEN BY GANGMEMBERS OR PEOPLE WITH AUTHORITY. I KNOW BECAUSE MY SON WAS MURDERED.

by Shaunda	01/14/07 02:20 AM
this is unreal.I saw the video in pure horror.I saw them punching him, kneeing in the back, and what i really cant believe,is that they saw he was in distress and couldnt walk, and still they dragged him. shame on all involved. i cried watching this,

by In His Memory	01/06/07 12:09 PM
Pray our family will, eventually, know REAL truth about my 26-year old son who died. He was not a criminal, but died at the hands of those who should "serve and protect," rather than "swarm and prosecute." I know I was told lies Ju 2003. Pray for us!

by Joyce	12/28/06 04:10 PM
I hope these incidents in these "camps" will remind people how power can be instilled into the hands of those who are not acting on our behalf. We the people can change that with our objections to those who think they will not be punished for murder

by Joyce	12/28/06 04:09 PM
Those responsible, including the "do nothing nurse" should be charged with first degree murder and I hope they rot in their cells, forever reminded of what they did to a child. God help the parents of this boy, who have nothing left but their grief.

by Joyce	12/28/06 04:02 PM
This behavior in the name of the law is unconscionable.We are supposed to be part of a civilized nation,yet we allow our uniformed enforcers, banding together as an angry crowd, to return us to the wild.How & why did we evolve into torturers?

by Ronnie	12/09/06 08:54 AM
This is a classical veiw of our state laws concerning children, the law takes away the parent right to raise thier children ( hand on punishment), gives them to the state, the state violates those rights, then punish the caregivers (a perfect system)

by Sue	11/29/06 07:01 AM
It's not a matter of being black or white, or why this kid was there...or even what lead up to this...it's a matter of he was there for a reason and should have been SAFE. These adults who were trusted with these kids need to be held accountable.

by Pat	11/29/06 02:15 AM
I've worked in DJJ and there are plenty of people who should not be. Training is poor, management often is as well. Kids are hurt every day by those who should be helping. Poor funding, poor staffing equals poor endings. How does that help anyone?

by Pat	11/29/06 02:11 AM
Standing by and allowing it to happen is what the nurse did. That makes her as guilty. Just as any juvenile would be charged if he were with friends committing crimes. 40 million isn't enough to pay for their loss, nothing could come close.

by Sheldon	11/28/06 11:36 PM
Jail is a place where those who cannot accept responsibility for following rules (laws). When the police say jump you don't argue. If you do whatever happens will be your fault not the fault of the police. Marv, you are right on the money.

by CATHY	11/28/06 11:29 PM
This is the beginning of JUSTICE for Martin Lee Anderson! ~ www.justice4kids.org

by paul	11/28/06 10:35 PM
haha. ryan, classic 1st post. btw, is everyone else here suggesting the nurse beat this kid to death? what did she do? please know what you're talking about before you jump on this political bandwagon

by jackie	11/28/06 08:44 PM
a lot of really cold comments directed at the parents in this venue, this is not an issue of parenting and why he was incarcerated, the real issue here is that his life was taken from him. He didn't ask to die.

by Denise	11/28/06 07:56 PM
This should not have happened, they must have been sick the day they taught ethics at the academy. They are nothing more then just BULLIES with badges.If your going to run a proper Boot Camp Hire people with a Military background supervisors as well

by Rick	11/28/06 07:38 PM
I'm a former State Boot Camp Drill Instructor, Boot camps are a good idea but you need the proper personnel from supervisors on down they should all have and Army or Marine back ground to make it work right. I'm also an MP with the 320th MP CO. USAR.

by Ron	11/28/06 07:15 PM
He wasn't there because he was a good kid, I don't believe the guards would beat him to death for the hell of it.He must not have been corporating with the guards.

by Candi	11/28/06 07:06 PM
get away with it as MANSLAUGHTER you have to be kidding prison like any one else would not get off easy they acted like street gangs beating him lock them up and let the big boys in there for life beat them to a pulp, and don't drop the SOAP! ha ha!

by Candi	11/28/06 07:00 PM
THAT IS MURDER NOT MANSLAUGTER! They new thet were beating him bad and could and was killing him MANSLAUGHTER is not the charge MURDRER is we know if we beat some one like that it would be considered MURDER for the public but the police and gards can

by Carol	11/28/06 06:55 PM
Finally, those involved with this tragedy will be held accountable for their actions. I see the guards and nurse are listed, what about the individual that gave the initial autopsy report?

by Candi	11/28/06 06:19 PM
these are children for god's sake they got in trouble but don't know why maybe up bringing ? The nurse and gards need to be put in prison for a long time. theey acted like gang members them selfs the way they beat these children great way to recrute

Eight charged in teen's boot camp death

Early edition: Seven guards and a nurse at the Panama City juvenile facility face aggravated manslaughter charges in connection with the death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson.