Martin Lee Anderson's parents to meet with Jeb Bush today(Boot camp death)

[seafan]

Martin Lee Anderson's parents to meet with Bush today

By Stephen Price
September 27, 2006

The parents of Martin Lee Anderson will have a press conference this morning at 11 to discuss a meeting with Gov. Jeb Bush and their concern that no one has been held accountable in the death of their 14-year-old son.

Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober is investigating the Panama City teen's death.

Anderson died Jan. 6, a day after he was restrained, hit and kneed by guards at the Bay County juvenile boot camp.

An autopsy done by Bay County Medical Examiner Dr. Charles Siebert said Anderson died from sickle-cell trait, or natural causes.

A second autopsy, done by Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Dr. Vernard Adams, said Anderson died from suffocation by guards at the boot camp who forced ammonia tablets into his nose while covering his mouth.

snip

The backstory is here.

[saigon68]

1. Sounds like Murder to me

[seafan]

2. State stonewalling on charging any guards involved until after election

Martin Anderson's parents complain about lack of action in case

BY MARC CAPUTO
September 27, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Martin Lee Anderson's family might have to wait until after the Nov. 7 election -- or even a year after their boy's death at a Panama City boot camp -- to see if any of the guards will be charged.

Martin's parents and their attorney, Benjamin Crump, said today they were informed by the special prosecutor probing the case that he might file charges in the coming months, if ever. Crump said the prosecutor, Mark Ober, had earlier told him and others that charges would come this month.

Ober's office said he could not immediately return calls for comment because Ober and other investigators in the case were in court.

Crump said his clients, Gina Jones and Robert Anderson, want to meet today with Gov. Jeb Bush to continue making good on his promise to ensure that ''justice'' was done on his watch. A Bush spokesman couldn't be reached.

''The people should be outraged,'' Crump said, noting the scrum of boot camp guards were videotaped punching, kneeing and body-slamming the 14-year-old boy in his final hours Jan. 5.

snip

Just like * turned tail and ran to a bunker in the Midwest on the morning of September 11, 2001, his little brother is avoiding like the plague, this travesty of justice under his watch.

[seasat]

3. I wonder if this has something to do with it too.

Chameleon Charlie is real tight with Mel Sembler. He is a major fundraiser, contributor, and mentor for Crist. For those that don't know him, Sembler is a megadeveloper who greases policians in Florida so he can put up strip malls. We fought him back from putting one next to our neighborhood. Sembler is also the major backer of Straight Inc. It uses a philosophy similar to the boot camp approach to rehab kids. They've been accused of abuses and were charged in other states. However, they've refused to touch them here in Florida (LINK). It could be that if Chameleon Charlie goes after the boot camp folks, he'll also have to investigate similar claims about his buddy's operation and that could prove embarassing.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. What is it With The Bush Family?

What the fuck? "forced ammonia tablets into his nose while covering his mouth" is natural causes?

This is so crazy, I can't believe it.

[lpbk2713]

5. As I recall it ....

The local Medical Examiner who decided the main cause of death was sickle cell anemia has had his license revoked, as it should be. And there were other instances brought to light that showed there was good reason to believe he 'played ball' with the authorities so that no one would be fired or worse or so they wouldn't lose their asses in compensatory damages.

[MGD]

7. "sickle cell anemia "

Those three words tell me everything I need to know about this case.

[seafan]

6. Little Jebbie is hiding from Martin's parents.

The attorney and parents today held a press conference to say they wanted results faster. They also hoped to meet with Gov. Jeb Bush, but were unable to do so. The parents didn't have an appointment, but they said they were counting on Bush to "keep an open dialogue" as they said he'd promised after meeting with him earlier this year.

"I came here today to ask the governor if that was his son, seen on the video, would he have faith in a system after ten months," said Anderson's mother, Gina Jones, who was visibly upset.

Crump said if the investigation continues for two more months the delay could be seen as politically motivated.

Sounds like another student protest in Jeb's office is warranted.