May 15, 2006
Documents Show
Martin Lee Anderson Was a Very Troubled
Child
The Martin Lee Anderson case entered a
new realm last week with the release of the
second autopsy report. The report laid the
blame for the teenager’s death on the drill
instructors and a nurse at the Bay County
boot camp.
Shortly after that, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush
wrote to sheriff Frank McKeithen and asked
him to fire the man who used to head up the
Camp’s operations.
Sheriff McKeithen is refusing to fire
Capt. Mike Thompson and points to new
documents as the reason.
At the request of Anderson’s family, the
Governor is asking that Thompson be fired.
Jeb Bush told reporters he felt it was
appropriate that he be removed.
But, McKeithen says Thompson has done
nothing wrong.
Anderson’s mother, Gina Jones, also
claims Thompson made inappropriate comments
in her presence.
NewsChannel Seven obtained the documents
detailing a meeting between Thompson, Ms.
Jones and Martin Lee Anderson. In that
meeting Gina Jones asked Capt. Thompson to
enroll Anderson in the boot camp early
because she couldn’t control him.
Disciplinary records from Anderson’s
school, Emerald Bay Academy showed he had a
history of disruptive, disrespectful and
sometimes violent behavior.
Teachers claimed the 14-year-old boy
talked in class and then screamed the “F”
word when they asked him to be quiet.
Local Attorney Waylon Graham, who
represents the boot camps second in command,
Lt. Charles Helms, reviewed the documents we
were able to retrieve. He says they back up
the drill instructors claims that Anderson
was out of control.
“These documents turn things completely
around,” Graham says. “These documents
support what the officers were saying the
whole time. This young man was a problem
child. He was out of control. He was
belligerent. They were dealing with him the
best way they could.”
Meanwhile, Sheriff’s McKeithen says until
any evidence comes along proving Capt.
Thompson did anything wrong, he won’t fire
him.
We contacted the Anderson Family’s
attorney for this report. His staff said
they would call back with a statement, but
later refused to comment.
http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/2789281.html
