Ex-Bartlett Teacher Guilty In Experiment Gone Wrong: Prosecutors

Elgin IL

10 March, 2021

1:55 PM

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BARTLETT, IL — A six-person jury on Tuesday found a former Bartlett High School chemistry teacher guilty of reckless conduct for injuring a student during a science demonstration, prosecutors said. The jury also found Garry Brodersen, 66, of Carpentersville, guilty of one count of endangering the life of a child. Both charges are Class A misdemeanors. The jury deliberated for four hours after a two-day trial, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. On May 15, 2018, Brodersen was performing a science demonstration for his class when he poured liquid nitrogen on a student's chest and groin area, prosecutors said. The chemical caused burn injuries to the students' groin and finger, according to the news release. "Mr. Brodersen displayed extremely poor judgement when he doused a student with a dangerous chemical during a science demonstration," State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. Brodersen may be sentenced as early as next week. The incident was caught on video.