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Boot Camp Death Chronology Of Events

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2007

BOOT CAMP DEATH CHRONOLOGY

Jan. 6, 2006: Martin Lee Anderson, 14, of Panama City, dies after being restrained at a Bay County juvenile boot camp. He collapsed after complaining of breathing problems.

Feb. 16: Bay County Medical Examiner Charles Siebert says Anderson died from internal bleeding caused by sickle cell trait, a blood disorder, and not from injuries suffered while being restrained.

Feb. 17: A videotape showing guards kicking and punching Anderson is released to the public and appears on national television.

Feb. 22: Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober is called upon to head an investigation of Anderson's death.

March 13: After Anderson's body is exhumed and a second autopsy performed, New York coroner Michael Baden, who observed the autopsy, discounts the sickle cell trait as the cause of death.

April 19: About 30 students from Florida A&M University, Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College stage a sit-in at Gov. Jeb. Bush's office. Leaders of the student group met with Bush; they remained in the Capitol overnight.

April 20: Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Guy Tunnell resigns after criticism over the management of the initial investigation into Anderson's death.

April 21: The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton join about 2,000 demonstrators in the Capitol courtyard, and the pair meet privately with Bush

May 5: The Hillsborough County medical examiner says the second autopsy performed on Anderson shows he died from suffocation.

May 31: Bush signs into law the Martin Lee Anderson Act, which scraps the state's juvenile justice boot camps in favor of facilities that emphasize treatment.

July 12: Anderson's family announces it will file a $40 million lawsuit against the Bay County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

Oct. 18: U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle dismisses a conspiracy allegation in the Anderson family's civil lawsuit and rules that the family cannot recover punitive damages should they win the suit.

Nov. 17: Former Department of Juvenile Justice employee Steve Meredith files a whistleblower complaint against the agency, saying he was fired because of his outspoken views on the Anderson case.

Nov. 28: Authorities file felony manslaughter charges in Anderson's death, alleging that eight people at the camp caused his death through culpable negligence.

Compiled by BUDDY JAUDON, The Tampa Tribune

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