Missouri group home fire claims 11th victim as owner promises appeal of state licensing decision

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) _ An 11th person has died of injuries suffered in a fire last month at a group home for the mentally ill, officials said Thursday, as the home's owner vowed to appeal a state

Thursday, December 21st 2006, 9:37 pm

By: News On 6

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) _ An 11th person has died of injuries suffered in a fire last month at a group home for the mentally ill, officials said Thursday, as the home's owner vowed to appeal a state order closing his four facilities for the mentally ill.

Charles Rodney Smith, 42, died Sunday at a hospital, state Fire Marshal Randy Cole said.

Smith, a resident of the home, suffered burns over 60 percent of his body during the Nov. 27 blaze, which investigators suspect was caused by wiring in the attic.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services last week stripped the operating licenses of all four facilities run by Joplin River of Life Ministries Inc. _ including the Anderson home _ and ordered they close by Jan. 5.

The department asserted the business was illegally operated by Robert DuPont, whose 2003 conviction barred him both from running such facilities and from participating in the Medicaid program.

DuPont has denied any wrongdoing and said Thursday the River of Life Ministries was going to appeal. It has until Dec. 30 to do so.