Robert Joseph DuPont Jr. today admitted for the first time he has had a role in operating the Anderson Guest House and other care centers, despite a felony conviction that prevents him from legally running such facilities. "I assisted in basically all the phases in the operation of the care centers," DuPont told the News-Leader.
And his thoughts on the media:
He also expressed frustration with media coverage that has focused on his bumpy background instead of the lives lost in the fire. Said DuPont: "They ought to be talking about these people being heroes. It’s everything but what counts."
The only problem with the media's role in the situation is that no one, except an 18-year-old reporter nine years ago ever spent any time checking into his background. In an ideal world, the regional and state media would have followed up on Cait Purinton's reporting for the Carthage and Lamar Press nine years ago and Robert Dupont would never had had anything to do with the Anderson Guest House.
They are talking about the people who died in the fire. The focus should not be on hero status. The focus should be on the fact that they might still be alive. The focus is on Dupont's criminal ownership status as it should be. The focus should be on the fact that someone else might not have taken the shortcuts and cheap fixes that resulted in 10 people's death.
ReplyDeleteDupont should have trouble sleeping at night.
But he doesn't, as he has his money to keep him warm, all but that icy heart of his.
ReplyDeleteTwo words, Robert Dupont: sprinkler system. If Anderson had had a sprinkler system, it's very likely those people would still be alive today, and instead of remembering a 19-year-old employee as a hero, we could thank him in person instead. Just a thought. If you're truly interested in the welfare of your charges, you will do your best to protect them, whether or not those efforts are required by the state.