Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Fire at Mo. group home was second in week

|
|
 
  
Published: Nov. 28, 2006 at 2:16 PM

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.

Topics: Robert Joseph
© 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Notable deaths of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala
Indianapolis 500 Presidential Medal of Freedom Memorial Day around the nation
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 20
Singer Janelle Monae arrives at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, California
View Caption
Singer Janelle Monae arrives for the MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. UPI/Jim Ruymen
fark
The bar for spelling has never been lowre
Turns out men cheat way more than women after all
Famous last words: "The notion that it's too late to do anything is comical. It's hilarious. We're...
Five secrets to getting the best healthcare. #6: Don't get sick
Traveling to the U.S.? If invited to a dinner party, bring a gift of wine, but not cash or toiletries...
Man turns dead pet cat into remote-controlled helicopter, calls it art (w/WTF pics)