MartinLeeAnderson.com

Justice for Martin Lee Anderson, who died of suffocation at the hands of Charles Helms Jr, Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Henry Mcfadden, Joseph Walsh II, Kristen Schmidt. Martin died after enrollment at Bay County Boot Camp in January of 2006. Dr Charles Siebert ruled Martin Lee Anderson died of complication of sickle cell trait, manner of death was natural causes. Forced ammonia inhalation and occlusion of the mouth suffocated Martin Lee Anderson. The ammonia caused a spasm of the vocal cords, the hand of the mouth blocked Martin Anderson’s airway.
Justice for Martin Lee Anderson, who died of suffocation at the hands of Charles Helms Jr, Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Henry Mcfadden, Joseph Walsh II, Kristen Schmidt. Martin died after enrollment at Bay County Boot Camp in January of 2006. Dr Charles Siebert ruled Martin Lee Anderson died of complication of sickle cell trait, manner of death was natural causes. Forced ammonia inhalation and occlusion of the mouth suffocated Martin Lee Anderson. The ammonia caused a spasm of the vocal cords, the hand of the mouth blocked Martin Anderson’s airway.
Justice for Martin Lee Anderson, who died of suffocation at the hands of Charles Helms Jr, Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Henry Mcfadden, Joseph Walsh II, Kristen Schmidt. Martin died after enrollment at Bay County Boot Camp in January of 2006. Dr Charles Siebert ruled Martin Lee Anderson died of complication of sickle cell trait, manner of death was natural causes. Forced ammonia inhalation and occlusion of the mouth suffocated Martin Lee Anderson. The ammonia caused a spasm of the vocal cords, the hand of the mouth blocked Martin Anderson’s airway.
Justice for Martin Lee Anderson, who died of suffocation at the hands of Charles Helms Jr, Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Henry Mcfadden, Joseph Walsh II, Kristen Schmidt. Martin died after enrollment at Bay County Boot Camp in January of 2006. Dr Charles Siebert ruled Martin Lee Anderson died of complication of sickle cell trait, manner of death was natural causes. Forced ammonia inhalation and occlusion of the mouth suffocated Martin Lee Anderson. The ammonia caused a spasm of the vocal cords, the hand of the mouth blocked Martin Anderson’s airway.
Justice for Martin Lee Anderson, who died of suffocation at the hands of Charles Helms Jr, Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Henry Mcfadden, Joseph Walsh II, Kristen Schmidt. Martin died after enrollment at Bay County Boot Camp in January of 2006. Dr Charles Siebert ruled Martin Lee Anderson died of complication of sickle cell trait, manner of death was natural causes. Forced ammonia inhalation and occlusion of the mouth suffocated Martin Lee Anderson. The ammonia caused a spasm of the vocal cords, the hand of the mouth blocked Martin Anderson’s airway.
Justice for Martin Lee Anderson, who died of suffocation at the hands of Charles Helms Jr, Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Henry Mcfadden, Joseph Walsh II, Kristen Schmidt. Martin died after enrollment at Bay County Boot Camp in January of 2006. Dr Charles Siebert ruled Martin Lee Anderson died of complication of sickle cell trait, manner of death was natural causes. Forced ammonia inhalation and occlusion of the mouth suffocated Martin Lee Anderson. The ammonia caused a spasm of the vocal cords, the hand of the mouth blocked Martin Anderson’s airway.
Justice for Martin Lee Anderson, who died of suffocation at the hands of Charles Helms Jr, Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Henry Mcfadden, Joseph Walsh II, Kristen Schmidt. Martin died after enrollment at Bay County Boot Camp in January of 2006. Dr Charles Siebert ruled Martin Lee Anderson died of complication of sickle cell trait, manner of death was natural causes. Forced ammonia inhalation and occlusion of the mouth suffocated Martin Lee Anderson. The ammonia caused a spasm of the vocal cords, the hand of the mouth blocked Martin Anderson’s airway.
Justice for Martin Lee Anderson, who died of suffocation at the hands of Charles Helms Jr, Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Henry Mcfadden, Joseph Walsh II, Kristen Schmidt. Martin died after enrollment at Bay County Boot Camp in January of 2006. Dr Charles Siebert ruled Martin Lee Anderson died of complication of sickle cell trait, manner of death was natural causes. Forced ammonia inhalation and occlusion of the mouth suffocated Martin Lee Anderson. The ammonia caused a spasm of the vocal cords, the hand of the mouth blocked Martin Anderson’s airway.
Charles Helms Jr
Henry Dickens
Charles Enfinger
Patrick Garrett
Raymond Hauck
Henry Mcfadden
Joseph Walsh II
Kristin Schmidt

 

Sickle Cell Triat and EHI

Dr. John Kark, MD of the Howard University School of Medicine Center for Sickle Cell Disease, headed the most relevant study with regard to sickle cell trait and how it relates to unexpected exercise-related death in military style boot camp. Amongst other things, he found that a person with the trait has a 30 times greater chance of dying from exercise-related death. The study found these deaths occurred primarily as a result of exertional heat illness, with rhabdomyolysis as the "predominant component". Incidentally, early on in the Martin Lee Anderson case, Dr. Kark wrote an email supporting Dr. Sieberts findings.

-Excerpt of cohort study headed by Dr. Kark

"At least half of these cases were proven to suffer from acute exertional heat illness, with rhabdomyolysis the predominant component. The other half of cases died suddenly without a clear etiology, but with evidence for increased risk of unrecognized EHI when such evidence was sought."

Earlier I asked, in the absence of the drill instructors actions, would Martin still have died?

To answer this question, one only has to look at the numbers and apply logic. One out of every 10 or 12 black males has sickle cell trait. There are a little more than 100 or so deaths contributed to exertional sickling. This is a known cause of death in the medical literature, and is extremely rare. In fact, if you have sickle cell trait, you have a greater chance of being struck by lightening than dying from EHI.

There are certain conditions associated to the reported exercise related deaths (ERD's), in the literature, that are not at all consistent with Martin Lee Anderson's death. Environmental conditions, such as temperature and elevation for instance, play a major role, according to the cohort study lead by Dr. John Kark. The report also makes it clear, equally as important are other factors, such as dehydration and lack of sleep.

-Excerpt of cohort study headed by Dr. Kark

"Important risk factors for EHI which have been associated with ERD of young adults with sickle cell trait include inadequate hydration, environmental heat stress with a WBGT of at least 75ûF during the preceding 24 hours (18), heat retaining clothing, sustained heroic effort above customary activity, incomplete acclimation to heat, obesity with poor exercise fitness (22), inadequate sleep, and delay in recognition and treatment of EHI."

Comparison, in order:

  1. The dehydration factor was mild, if any, so this was likely not an issue in Martin's death.
  2. The temperature on January 5 was around 64 degrees.
  3. His clothing was appropriate for the exercise he was doing.
  4. Sustained heroic effort is not an accurate description of Martin Andersons run.
  5. Heat was not an issue that morning.
  6. Martin was physically fit by all definitions of the term.
  7. By all accounts, Martin slept well the night before.
  8. A delay in treatment, this applies.

Martin was an athlete, and loved to play basketball, amongst other sports. According to his coach, Martin was the best player on his team. The 1.5 mile run was not something above Martin's "customary activity". However, the treatment he received was.

-Excerpt of cohort study headed by Dr. Kark

"We are unaware of cases resulting from heavy work. The largest group of American athletes reported with sickle cell trait and fatal EHI was football players during preseason training. It is plausible that this situation combines risk factors from high environmental heat stress, poor acclimation, poor conditioning, heat retaining clothing, and a higher frequency of sustained metabolic exercise."

I think it is reasonable to suggest another major factor in all of these cases, is the individuals motivation to continue past their threshold. To understand why fatal EHI is most prevalent amongst athletes in preseason football training, you do not have to use much imagination. The training itself is consists of constant strenuous exertion, aggressive physical contact, and sustained heroic exercise. This fact, coupled with a players competitive demand to push himself, or the desire to "impress", and you have a scenario consistent with exertional sickle cell trait death.

The same can be said for military boot camp fatal EHI cases. Here you also have a situation where these young men 'want' to be there. They were pushing themselves much harder then their body is used to, doing things they were not used to doing. There are always factors which contribute to these situations, such as heat retaining clothing or poor conditioning. Heat is another major factor, and when combined heroic or extreme exercise, a person can develope EHI. If a person with sickle cell trait develops EHI, there is an increased risk of death.

At what level was Martin's motivation? What team was he trying out for? How hard do you imagine one of these athletes is pushing their self, compared to how hard Martin was pushing himself relative to his ability?

On October 8, 2007 Dr. Bruce Levy, Tennessee state chief medical examiner, stated the following:

"There is no doubt that his cells began sickling while he was running around, I mean, you read these medical reports, you read these scientific studies, you read the descriptions of what happened to these young men, who are collapsing while on military training, or while on the athletic field, and the stories read exactly like Martin Lee Anderson's" Dr. Bruce Levy /

Do not get me wrong, Dr. Levy's credentials are impeccable, and I do not enjoy "picking" his words apart. However, there is a problem with this statement. It is part of the same problem I have been pointing out over and over. These experts giving opinions without considering all the facts.

Martin's cells may have been sickling to some degree, while he was running around. If he was working so hard that his breath intake was failing to provide enough oxygen. This would explain why Martin was said, "I can't do this". At the same time, it twists the argument to some extent. What I mean is, even if Martin was experiencing exertional sickling, having sickle cell trait does not cause EHI. Again, according to the cohort study cited numerous times in this section, some form of EHI is the condition that causes the death.

-Excerpt of cohort study headed by Dr. Kark

"We have reviewed 55 cases of unexpected ERD with sickle cell trait (3). At least two-thirds occur under conditions of high risk for EHI. Most deaths were non-sudden. Those few cases of sudden ERD which were properly examined demonstrate hyperthermia or chemical abnormalities diagnostic of acute EHI."

One thing that is very clear from the study, there is an increased risk for an exercise related death associated to sickle cell trait. However, it is important to realize the great number of differences in the death of Martin Lee Anderson, and those studied by Dr. Kark in this research.

-Excerpt of cohort study headed by Dr. Kark

" We believe that risk of unexpected ERD is largely confined to periods of intense conditioning for a new form of exercise or a sustained event at a level of performance for which the individual is unprepared. There are many reports indicating no increased morbidity or mortality for competitive professional athletes with sickle cell trait (3)." Cohort Study Report

Another interesting point to think about is the that anyone can die from exertional heat illness (EHI). In fact, during the cohort study, Kark's team found just as many people, without sickle cell trait, died from EHI.

-Excerpt of cohort study headed by Dr. Kark

"Among non-participating centers there was no significant difference between predicted and observed deaths (14 each) regardless of hemoglobin type."

 

Dr. Oswaldo Castro, the Director of the Howard University School of Medicine Center for Sickle Cell Disease, stated that a person without the trait can also die from EHI, but a person with sickle cell trait has a much greater risk. " Dr. Castro was consulted for this research and has no specific knowledge in this case. He aslo stated he is not an expert in trauma or EHI.

According to Dr. Castro, trauma could play a role in the death of someone with exercise-related heat illness, rather they have sickle cell trait or not. There is an argument to be made as to the level of trauma Martin endured and the doctor stated it would be dependent on such. However, any possible effects must be considered very seriously.

For instance, if during the arm bar take down of Martin, when his chest was slammed against the ground, the wind was knocked out of him. If you have ever had your wind "knocked out", you know, it is very difficult to breath afterwards, not to mention extremely painful. This is a very important point that seems to be over looked by many. At the time Martin was slammed onto the ground, he was already experiencing some form of exercise-related heat illness (EHI). The loss of any oxygen could only serve to intensify the effects of the condition.

Dr. Vincent Di Maio stated the ammonia capsules in conjunction to the manual occlusion of the mouth would not have contributed to Martin's death. He bases this on two things: ammonia capsules are harmless, and you can always breath through you nose or "turn your head". As brilliant as the good doctor obviously is, ammonia is classified as toxic, and is known to cause reactions. This is a proven fact and cannot be disputed. Now rather any reaction actually happened in this case, I do not know. The possibilty remains.

According to Dr. Castro it would depend on the degree of blood oxygenation at the time, as to whether ammonia contributed to Martin's death. I do not believe there is a dispute as to where Martin's blood oxygen level was at this time. In addition, just occluding the mouth is likely dangerous for someone with EHI, even if they do not have the trait. Dr. Castro said, "You can fill your lungs faster breathing through your mouth than your nose". Having the trait greatly increases the chances of death. Martin needed as much oxygen as he could breath in, and the drill instructors actions made that extremely difficult.

The point is Dr. Siebert ruled Martin died "of natural causes". The problem with this is, even one of his supporters, Dr. Di Maio, in so many words admits the actions of the accused made the situation worse. If this is what he meant by "your right, they didn't help". So if this is the case, and the accused contributed to this child's death, then the death was not "natural", as some experts claim.

Dr. William Winter, Deputy Director of the Howard University School of Medicine Center for Sickle Cell Disease, also agrees these factors could contribute to death. Dr. Winters is also on record in February of 2006 referring to Dr. Sieberts autopsy results, “I’m not going to say that he’s outright wrong, but I would question it very seriously".

Quick Links

What Happened - 10/17/07
Autopsies - 11/01/07
Court of Public Opinion - not available
Matter of Law - 10/03/07
Ammonia Facts - 10/03/07
Sickle Cell Trait and EHI - 10/10/07
Dr. Siebert 10/13/07
Dr. Adams
Dr. Andrews 11/26/07
Dr. Gravenstein 11/29/07
Dr. Downs 10/29/07
Dr. Steinberg 11/27/07
Dr. Eichner
Science for Suffocation - Must read 10/10/07

This site is dedicated to the memory of Martin Lee Anderson. For information, send mail to justice@martinleeanderson.com