A hunt for truth behind teen's death

OUR OPINION: BRING PROPER CHARGES IN LIGHT OF SECOND AUTOPSY'S FINDINGS

Contrary to the charges of a ''witch hunt'' from an attorney representing a Bay County Boot Camp guard, the second autopsy of Martin Lee Anderson was a search for the truth: What killed the 14-year-old boy a day after he was manhandled by guards after his arrival at the camp Jan. 5?

Dr. Vernard Adams, Hillsborough County chief medical examiner, determined in the second autopsy: ``Martin Anderson's death was caused by suffocation due to the actions of the guards at the boot camp. The suffocation caused by manual [blockage] of the mouth, in concert with forced inhalation of ammonia fumes that caused spasm of the vocal cords resulting in internal blockage of the upper airway.''

Punched and choked

This conclusion certainly comports with the contents of a videotape of guards punching, kneeing and choking the teen while a camp nurse watches. When the teen passed out, guards held ammonia to his nose to revive him. Only after Martin stopped breathing was medical treatment sought.

The second autopsy, part of an investigation by a special prosecutor, Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober, contradicts the scientist-challenged autopsy of Bay County Medical Examiner Dr. Charles Siebert. Dr. Siebert ruled that the teen died of natural causes brought on by sickle-cell trait. Sickle-cell experts disputed that finding. A growing clamor by Martin's parents and supporters and state lawmakers prompted Gov. Jeb Bush to appoint Mr. Ober to conduct an independent investigation.

While we wait for Mr. Ober to, we trust, bring proper charges against all involved in Martin's death, other issues beg for accountability. Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice rules call for use-of-force punishments like those inflicted on Martin to be employed only as last resorts to prevent a youth from hurting himself or others. It is clear that Martin, hanging limply from guards' arms in the video, was a threat to no one.

Passing the buck

Yet this abusive pattern was routine at the Bay County camp run by Sheriff Frank McKeithen: It filed 180 use-of-force reports with the DJJ over a three-year period for such things as inmates' ''shrugging'' or even ''whimpering.'' Only eight of 180 reports involved teenagers behaving violently. But the DJJ did nothing about these violations.

DJJ chief Anthony Schembri says his hands were tied because Sheriff McKeithen is an autonomous elected official. That buck-passing doesn't pass the smell test. The sheriff contracted with DJJ to run the camp and should have been accountable for his guards' behavior.

The only consolation in Martin's death is that it helped convince the Legislature to shut down the state's boot camps and convert to more-positive treatments for troubled youths.