The Controversy
There is not too many people in the Bay county area that have not heard of the Martin Lee Anderson case. Most already have an opinion about what happened, regardless of what side they are on. The coverage of the tragedy has been extensive, reflecting many differences in opinions, including that of noted professionals.
On January 5th, 2006, as order by the court, Martin Lee Anderson reported to the Bay County Boot Camp in Panama City, FL at around 7:00 am. After completing the enrollment procedures, Martin was brought out onto the yard with several other youth offenders for the physical assessment portion of the enrollment.
The physical assessment consisted of as many push-ups an offender could complete in a period of 2 minutes. This was followed by as many sit-ups as could be done in the same amount of time. The last exercise to be completed was a 1.5 mile run (16 laps) around the yard, there was no time designated for the run, just that it be completed. The assessment is designed so staff observing the results would have a base point by which to measure the offenders progress.
During the running exercise, there was an altercation which lasted approximately 30 minutes. At this time, Martin is struck repeatedly, restrained, forced to inhale ammonia, and otherwise manhandled. The episode lasted the last 30 minutes of Martin Anderson’s conscious life.
Martin was taken off life support around 1:30, and was pronounced dead at 1:52 in the morning on January 6, 2006. The controversy began immediately after Martin’s death.
A statement released from the Sheriffs Department stated Martin became ill during his first two hours at the boot camp, and EMS was called in immediately. The Sheriffs department spokesperson, Ruth Sasser, states Martin was uncooperative, and after several warnings, the drill instructors were forced to restrain him against a wall. Which she says is consistent with standard training. According to Sasser, Martin complained of chest pains and breathing problems, was checked by the nurse who recommended contacting EMS. Sasser said also, Martin became unresponsive in the few minutes in took EMS to arrive at the scene, four minutes after they were called.
Soon there was reports of the existence of a video of the incident. The Bay County Sheriffs Office handed the video over to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). The DJJ refused to release the video, as it was a part of an active investigation and therefore exempt from the Florida Sunshine Law.
On the 13th of January, Dr. Siebert releases a statement “Nothing at this time indicates that trauma caused or contributed to his death.” The intensity of the controversy only grew with these statements. Considering the ‘hints’ the public was given concerning an altercation, an Martin being described as insubordinate, was creating a situation that was not looking good for the powers that be. Only more questions.
Many felt a since of ‘preparation’ with regard to the press releases from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. In other words, they seemed to be steadily preparing the public for the video, in stages.
“we must not leave you with the impression that this is going to have a good ending.” - Sheriff Frank McKeithen
“When it is released and made public, there will be many questions, concerns and accusations,” - Sheriff Frank McKeithen
A lot of people were starting to wonder exactly what happened. "Healthy young boys just don't die". The phrase “cover-up” was tossed around, accusations leveled against the Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BSCO) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Early February, State Rep. Gus Barreiro and Rep. Dan Gelber released very strong statements after viewing the video, condemning the instructors actions as brutal and excessive. One compared it to the “Rodney King beating". Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen responds to their statements, calling them "loose cannon politicians", and refers to their remarks as "irresponsible, premature and incorrect". 989
The NAACP and the National Black Caucus of Legislators join the Anderson family in seeking release of the video. The Anderson family held a press conference on the 15th of February, in which they requested its release.
On the 16th of February, Dr. Siebert’s released the results of the autopsy. The doctor ruled Martin Lee Anderson died from "Complications of Sickle Cell Trait" and the manner of death was natural. The ruling stunned the Anderson family, and those concerned citizens following the case.
The following day, on February 17, 2006, the FDLE released the surveillance video of the incident. This comes on the heals of a lawsuit filed on the 13th by the Miami Herald and CNN. The horrors seen on the video caused an outrage that spread across the state like a wild fire. What many saw was in direct contradiction of the Sheriff offices press releases and statements. The Sheriff's office states an investigation related to drill instructors actions is still underway. Sheriff Frank McKeithen said, “We at no time have indicated that we believe this incident was handled correctly,"
Only adding urgency to an already critical situation was that immediately after the videos release and Dr. Sieberts ruling, a number of medical experts spoke out against autopsy results. Many of them holding very relevant positions, such as in the area of sickle cell disease and hematology. These comments only intensified the political storm that already emerged on Bay county, as well as the rest of the state.
One of the first doctors to disagree with Dr. Siebert’s findings was Dr. Jerry Barbosa, who is the medical director of pediatric hematology oncology at All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL.
"In 30 years of taking care of children with sickle cell disease, I never, ever heard of anybody dying from sickle cell trait," - Dr. Jerry Barbosa
"totally preposterous, out of context and very unscientific." - Dr. Jerry Barboa
Dr. Judith Ranells, a professor of pediatrics at the University of South Florida, referred the report as ridiculous.
“That is like saying, a person in a severe car accident, died of a heart attack, because their heart filled with blood after impact, and failed.” - Dr. Judith Ranells
Another professional to disagree was Dr. Stuart Toledano, director of pediatric hematology oncology, at the University of Miami. Dr. Toldano is an expert in Sickle Cell disease.
"You can't explain the findings on the autopsy and the death as it relates to sickle cell trait," Dr. Toledano
There were a number of doctors to write into a south Florida media referring to sickle cell related deaths in military recruits and atheletes, such as a young football player a few years ago. One to go public was Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner Dr. Jon Thogmartin, also a member of the Florida Medical Commission at the time. He stated Martin’s case was one of the most “remarkable” cases of sickle cell trait deaths he had ever seen.
The doctors whom questioned Dr. Siebert’s ruling were not exclusive to south Florida. Dr. William P. Winter, the deputy director of the Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease, also had problems with the findings.
“When we talk about the exertion that’s involved in that, you have to consider that a number of football players in the NFL have sickle cell trait, and they’re not noted for taking it easy. The conditions that we know of that lead to that situation (death) have been tied in with extreme exertion under condition of dehydration, and extremely high temperature.” - Dr. Winters / 994
“I’m not going to say that he’s[Dr. Siebert] outright wrong, but I would question it very seriously.” - Dr. Winters / 994
With noted professionals coming out in opposition, and in lue of the video, the fury was spreading nationwide. The intensity for most people did not come from the NAACP, or some politically motivated entity, but rather the obvious contrast in the statements of these few doctors, compared to that of Dr. Siebert. This is where most locals I’ve talked to really started asking questions. One resident said, “He’s being beaten by 5, 6, 7 guards, and this guy [Siebert] says he died naturally, of sickle cell disease? Now there is other doctors, not some Panama City employee, but experts in sickle cell, saying no way.”
“There is a slight, increased risk at the extremes of human endurance, but it really takes a profound amount of exercise and dehydration,” - Dr. James Eckman, professor at Emory University / director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center - Grady Health System
Martin’s parents, Robert Anderson and Gina Jones, demand arrests for the death of their son. Their pain is heard across the country. Leaders from both sides of the isle support charges against the boot camp staff involved.
One of those leaders was state Sen. Gary Siplin. He strongly condemned the actions of the drill instructors, and called for their arrests.
“It’s clear there is a cover-up... At the very least, it’s aggravated battery. At the top of the ladder it’s murder.” - Sen. Gary Siplin / 992
In addition, Sen. Siplin advocated the closure of all the states juvenile boot camps facilities. The idea was originally not supported by then, Gov. Jeb Bush. He did not want to remove the program because of “one tragic incident.”
Dr. Siebert responded to Sen. Siplin accusation of a “cover-up”, stating he felt, “picked at a little personally.”
“I don’t work for the Sheriff’s Office. I don’t work for FDLE. I’m an independent agent here. … Their investigation is totally separate from mine,” - Dr. Charles Siebert
Sen. Frederica Wilson, Miami, was another leader to speak out against the actions of those involved in the episode. She referred to Dr. Sieberts results as “arrogant” and stated that the nation would “perform their own autopsy” upon reviewing the video footage of the incident.
With the situation escalating rapidly, State Attorney Steve Meadows knew the public, mainly outside Bay county, was not accepting Dr. Siebert’s findings. With a prosecution inevitable, Meadows sent a letter to Gov. Jeb Bush on February 21, requesting the appointment of a special prosecutor. In the letter he stated his office had developed a working relationship the sheriff’s office, presenting a conflict. Gov. Bush approved Steve Meadows request, and appointed State Attorney Mark Ober, 13th district, as the special prosecutor.
“The citizens of our community and the people of the State of Florida must have confidence in a fair review of this material and any decision which may result” - State Attorney Steve Meadows
On February 23, Dr. Shairi Turner, DJJ’s chief medical officer, told the Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee about her questions regarding the decision to have Martin’s body returned to Panama City for the autopsy. Martin died at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, and usually the autopsy is performed in the district in which the individual expired. Dr. Turner explained that after she learned about Martin’s death, she called the Pensacola medical examiner’s office concerning the autopsy when she was informed Martin’s body was returned to Panama City.
“I asked if that was the usual practice... I was under the impression that where a person dies is where the autopsy is performed. I was told that this was highly unusual and was done at the request of the sheriff [Frank McKeithen].” - Dr. Shairi Turner
Dr. Stephen Nelson, chair of the Florida Medical Commission, stated it was not unusual to move a body back to the district were the investigation will occur. Noting it is easier to move a body than an investigation.
A community rally was held on February 25, citizens demanded justice for the death of Martin Lee Anderson. Adora Obi Nweze, President of the Florida Chapter of the NAACP, spoke at the event. Nweze stated ,“Let’s be clear about what this is. It’s a war for justice in the face of injustice.”
“Let’s be clear about what this is. It’s a war for justice in the face of injustice.”
On March 14, the findings from a second autopsy performed by Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Dr. Vernard Adams, were released. The report directly conflicts with the first autopsy. Dr. Adams rules the cause of death a result of suffocation from “occlusion of the mouth and inhalation of ammonia.” His ruling only further complicated the intensity of the situation, but came as no shock to a number of those who do not believe Dr. Sieberts findings were accurate. Dr. Michael Baden attended the second autopsy at the behest of Martin's family attorney. He had a somewhat different determination, but fell in line with Dr. Adams opinion, asphyxiation.
The criticism of Dr. Siebert continued in an increasing manor. Since the beginning there has been a spotlight cast on Dr. Sieberts findings, this led to an investigation that began to look into Dr. Siebert past work. At some point the doctor was accused of falsely providing information on his report of diagnostics he could not have performed. The Florida Medical Commission unanimously voted to remove Dr. Siebert as chief medical examiner.
Eventually there was a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Anderson Family, against the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Bay County Sheriff's Department. The cries for arrests continued.
The arrests would come in December of 2006, 8 were charged including 7 drill instructors and 1 nurse. The crime alleged was Aggravated Manslaughter of a child, punishable up to 30 years in prison. Their defense is Martin died from naturally from sickle cell trait, and the accused were following policy.
More noted doctors have come out in support of Dr. Sieberts findings. The contention has been the "science" is with Dr. Sieberts findings and Dr. Adams findings are only a hypothesis which cannot be backed up with science. These doctors include, in part, Dr. Thogmartin of the Florida Medical Commission, Dr. John Kark, likely the leading doctor in the field of sickle cell trait and its relation to exercise-related death. Dr. Bruce Levy, Dr. Eichner, and others.
