September 27, 2007
BAY COUNTY -- A ten person jury is now seated in the trial of seven juvenile boot camp guards and a nurse charged in the death of a 14-year-old.
An exercise yard videotape showed the guards repeatedly hitting Martin Anderson while the nurse stood by and watched. Anderson had been sent to the camp for a probation violation and became lethargic during a physical fitness test shortly after arriving.
The Bay County Medical Examiner said Anderson died of natural causes from a form of sickle cell anemia. A second autopsy, performed by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner said Anderson suffocated because his mouth was taped shut, while ammonia capsules were forced under his nose.
The guards and nurse are all charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.
The trial is scheduled to begin October third and last eight days. They face 30 years in prison if convicted.
The state of Florida paid Anderson's family $5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit. The Panama City boot camp is now closed.
Copyright 2007 The E.W. Scripps Co. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
