Fire at Mo. group home was second in week

ANDERSON, Mo., Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Authorities investigating a fire at an Anderson, Mo., group home have questioned why a convicted felon was hired as director of the home.

The fire, which killed 10 people Monday at the Anderson Guest House, followed another fire at the home two days earlier, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday.

Investigators said Robert Joseph Dupont, the executive director of Joplin River of Life Ministries Inc., which operated the guest house, was convicted in 2003 of conspiracy to commit fraud in a plan to cheat Medicare by hand-picking doctors for patients in group homes. Nanci Gonder, of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said state regulations prohibit felons from holding official positions at long term care facilities.

Fire marshals said the home had passed its most recent inspection in March.

Assistant State Fire Marshal Greg Carrell said a small fire had broken out Saturday in one of the resident's rooms and was quickly brought under control.