The Verdict

After less than 2 hours of deliberation, a Panama City jury found all 7 bootcamp guards and a nurse NOT GUILTY in the death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson. Read Abbie's story for more information. The best quote came from Ben Crump, the family's attorney. "You kill a dog, you go to jail," Crump said. "You kill a little black boy, nothing happens." And he's right, as I left the court house I felt really sick to my stomach. Justice seems so subjective sometimes.



Frustration and anger shows on the face of Gina Jones, mother of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson who died at the Bay County Boot Camp, after all seven guards and a nurse were acquitted Friday afternoon by a jury that took just over two hours to come back with the verdict. Supporters Yolanda Ceasar, left, and Bridgett Smith, both of Panama City, put their signs down to hug Jones as she leaves the court house Friday afternoon. "I'm not surprised," said Ceasar, a mother of three. "Look at the jury. It hurts to know that they still have that kind of feeling here. I'm really not surprised. I'm just hurt.



Martin Lee Anderson's grandmother Reto Williams, 63, and aunt Kristian "Debbie" Williams, 36, stay glued to Court TV following the acquittal of seven guards and a nurse in the death of 14-year-old Anderson at the Bay County Boot Camp. Following live coverage from the trial, the family's attorney, Ben Crump, gave an interview to Star Jones Reynolds by telephone.



"I was his favorite aunt," said Kristian "Debbie" Williams, 36, of Panama City, who got a tattoo in memory of her nephew Martin Lee Anderson.