"Immediately after the deadly fire last November at the Anderson Guest House, investigators from my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit responded to the scene in southwest Missouri and conducted interviews and obtained records. I am pleased that the efforts of my office, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, and other federal investigative agencies have led to the charges filed today. We will continue to assist the U.S. Attorney on this matter."
The statement also noted Nixon’s civil lawsuit filed last December against Robert Dupont, Laverne Dupont and Joplin River of Life Ministries alleging fraud and seeking the return of almost $700,000.
While I have no problem with Nixon issuing a statement, state government as a whole has nothing to trumpet concerning its handling of Robert Dupont. Dupont was allowed to break one law after another during the Carnahan, Holden, and Blunt administrations, and it took 11 deaths for someone in state government to take him to court. At least the federal government has gone after Dupont twice.
I agree, Randy. Had the state done what they should have when they should have, 11 people would still be alive today. They all have a share in the blame on this one.
ReplyDeleteExactly, the DFServices knew this was a shady character to say the least, and went ahead and contracted with him. Include the DFS in a civil suit, they have blood on their hands.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't DFS (Division of Family Services), it was DMH (Division of Mental Health). I am not for this man getting off at all, but the local fire dept. did an inspection and found no problems, this was routinely done. Not that I think this man is a saint, he should never had gone back to working with the people like he did, but the fire was not deliberate, it was an accident. Accidents happen.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Accidents happen. That's why people in a position of responsibility, especially when someone else's life may depend on it, go the extra mile and take the extra precautions. Its pretty obvious that the local fire department's inspection was inadequate.
ReplyDeleteyou can't have large scale disasters such as this if you dont house people in large scale institutions such as this one.
ReplyDeleteIf the families won't take the people who need that level of supervised living, and they can't afford any other place then what do you suggest for living arrangements? I knew several of the people who lived there and their families REFUSED to help them, but are now suing. Most were kicked out of apartments, shelters and family homes. Now we have very few places to try to find for supervised living. Supervised means someone giving them medications, making sure they have clean clothing and bedding, transportation to doctor's appointments, making sure that food is nutritious. Guesthouses were not great, some not even good, some cleaner than others, but they provided a housing service and now over 50 people had to relocate out of their home town areas to someplace across the state for housing.
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