Governor Blunt has called on Attorney General Jay Nixon to investigate the owner of the Anderson Guest House, which burned in November, killing ten. A spokesman for the Attorney General says an investigation is well underway. It appears Robert DuPont, an owner of Joplin River of Life Ministries, violated state law by operating the Anderson Guest House. State law prohibits convicted felons from running long-term care facilities. DuPont was convicted three years ago of conspiracy to commit Medicare fraud.Spokesman Scott Holste with the Attorney General’s office says that is a focus of the office’s investigation. Holste says the office sent investigators to the site on the day of the fire. He says investigators have been conducting dozens of interviews. Numerous documents have been seized. The Attorney General’s office also has written the State Health Director, asking her to immediately begin revocation proceedings against Joplin River of Life, which also operates two guest homes in Joplin and another one in Carl Junction. The letter states evidence shows that DuPont has been a principal in the operation of all the facilities since his conviction for fraud and lifetime exclusion from participating in Medicare or Medicaid. The fatal fire occurred on November 27th. It killed nine residents and one staff member.
