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Boy Who Died in Boot Camp to Be Exhumed
Friday, March 03, 2006
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The family of a teenager
who died after a violent altercation with juvenile boot camp guards
said Friday that a second medical examiner and an independent
pathologist will conduct a new autopsy on the boy.
Martin Lee Anderson's family is having his body
exhumed so they can challenge the original autopsy that concluded
the 14-year-old died from hemorrhaging caused by the usually benign
sickle cell trait, and not from the 30-minute altercation.
"It's a crying shame — we've got to go pull our
son up again just to get the truth," said Robert Anderson, the boy's
father.
Martin Anderson's body will be exhumed March 12
for an autopsy by Dr. Vernard Adams, the medical examiner in
Hillsborough County. Dr. Michael Baden, a forensic pathologist who
reviewed medical evidence in the slaying of civil rights leader
Medgar Evers, also will be present.
Baden will examine the body but cannot make any
incisions because he is not licensed to practice medicine in
Florida. He and Adams will issue separate reports.
Dr. Charles Siebert, who performed the original
autopsy, said a new procedure was a "good idea," but was confident
in his findings.
The ordeal was captured by a camp security
camera, which shows guards kneeing, beating and dragging Anderson.
The boy had entered the camp on a probation violation.
He was taken to a Pensacola hospital where he
died the next day, Jan. 6.
Bay County Sheriff's officials have said guards
were trying to get Anderson to participate after he became
uncooperative.
Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Hillsborough State
Attorney Mark A. Ober to review the evidence in the boy's death. No
one has been arrested or fired.
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