LouisianaVoice has been receiving reports of questionable expenditures and inadequate training of inspectors and investigators at the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (LOSFM) for several months, the most serious, of course, being the charges of inadequate and improper training.
Rebuilding from last August’s flood has delayed the story, which understandably involves considerable time with investigations and interviews.
But now, fires in two different areas of the state—one involving a suspicious death which resulted in the angry resignation of a top LOSFM inspector, and the other which resulted in the arrest of an innocent nurse on 77 counts in five separate fires at a nursing home—have clearly illustrated not only that the claims of inadequate training or accurate but that there may be a serious argument for malfeasance in office on the part of LOSFM upper command.
That’s a strong accusation for LouisianaVoice—or anyone—to make, but let’s examine the facts.
In both cases, a residential fire in which the wife of a local fire chief was found dead in the St. Tammany Parish town of Lacombe, reportedly with a bullet wound to her head, and the multiple fires at Bayou Chateau Nursing Home in Simmesport in Avoyelles Parish, LOSFM failed to send a certified arson investigator, assigning instead fire marshal inspectors who are not certified as arson investigators or qualified to perform those duties.
In the case of any homicide investigation such as the death of NANETTE KRENTEL, 49-year-old wife of St. Tammany Fire District No. 12 Chief Stephen Krentel, the fire marshal’s office is required by law to assign as its lead investigator a certified arson investigator. Instead, Henry B. Rayborn, a 10-year veteran LOSFM inspector was given the assignment.
“He (Rayborn) is one of the very best inspectors the fire marshal’s office has,” one former co-worker told Louisiana
Voice. “Everyone considers him as top-notch, but he is an inspector, not an arson investigator. There’s a huge difference. He was in over his head and he tried to convey that to Chief Brant Thompson.”
The former co-worker said that during a conference call between Rayborn, Thompson and other unidentified participants, Thompson became abrasive and Rayborn responded by telling Thompson he could consider the conversation as his resignation.
Reports from LOSFM indicate that State Fire Marshal Butch Browning, apparently fearing Rayborn will talk to the media, is pleading with him to reconsider his resignation.
When a series of fires broke out at Bayou Chateau Nursing Home late last year and earlier this year, LOSFM Inspector Kevin Billiot was dispatched to investigate. Like Rayborn, Billiot, a part-time minister, is not qualified as an arson investigator and sources say he never removed any articles from the fires for analysis.
LPN BRITTANY DUPAR, 27, of Simmesport, was subsequently arrested on two counts of attempted first-degree murder, five counts of aggravated arson and 70 counts of cruelty to the infirm.
The first fire was on Nov. 10, 2016. Two fires were set on March 25, at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and two more on March 26, at 10 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. Two of the fires were to bedding. Others were under a bathroom sink, to a supply closet, and in an undisclosed location in a patient’s room.
“He was also in far over his head,” a former arson investigator said of Billiot, who has been with the fire marshal’s office only a short time.
When other personnel began their own investigation, the time sheets of Dupar were pulled and it was learned that on the days of four of the fires, including the one in December, she was not even at work.
Moreover, a lighter was found in a patient’s bed.
Meanwhile, the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners has SUSPENDED Dupar’s license pending the outcome of her criminal charges.
Evidence such as her time sheets and the lighter discovered in the possession of a patient, in legal parlance, is called exculpatory evidence, meaning it is evidence that would held an accused in proving his or her innocence and under law, those accused are entitled to all such evidence.
But with an Avoyelles Parish Grand Jury scheduled to consider the charges against Dupar next Thursday (July 27), that evidence has yet to be given the district attorney’s office.
A recent email thread between Thompson, son of State Sen. Francis Thompson, and other LOSFM personnel reveal a disturbing lack of concern for Dupar on the part of Thompson.
Asked if the DA’s office should be informed of LOSFM findings that would clear Dupar, Thompson declined, suggesting that the office should let events “play their course with the Grand Jury.”
Thompson, something of a political survivor and apparently one with all the right connections, would appear to be more concerned with protecting the image of his office than in protecting the rights and the career of a wrongly-accused woman.
Perhaps the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney would find that email thread interesting reading.
Louisiana Voice 
Wowser! Only in Louisiana!!! Tell me again, why we all still live here?
Once again the Department of Public Safety’s integrity is called into question. Browning is a protégé of Mike Edmonson. He too needs to GO!
Tom, please research this, similar incidents involving LSFMO occurred under Browning watch at a carnival ride in St Helena Parish and a Hotel Fire in Grand Isle. Looks like he manages to survive shenanigans when peoples lives have been lost. The two incidents I mentioned here were public and he resigned, then came back to work under Edmonson’s watch.
Great article!
We deputy fire marshals are extremely grateful that you shed light on some of the NUMEROUS issues in this agency. Hopefully there’s much more to come. The Browning/Thompson reign must come to an end. We are EMBARRASSED to wear the uniform and the badge of the State Fire Marshal because of these two incompetent, thieving, crooked, lying, fraudulent political appointees.
Listen to the people, Governor Edwards! The SFM staff is not happy and the general public is suffering! Unsafe conditions exist and unprofessional investigations are being performed because of these two!
There is something very wrong with the Nanette incident, I will follow this investigation.
Somebody (the Governor would be best) needs to take a close look at the entire Department of Public Safety and Corrections and figure out the problems and solutions.
I hope Ms. Dupar gets fair treatment by our justice system, but even if she is found completely innocent her career potential is probably history because this will follow her wherever she goes. If exonerated, she could sue, but then she would have the battle of collecting.
fairness2014
Wowser! Only in Louisiana!!! Tell me again, why we all still live here?
Well I don’t and its events like this that are a good part of the reason. What is most depressing is the total lack of concern for the lives of people, Ms Dupar and the deceased Ms Kentrel, in this case, A salute to Mr Rayborn for his actions,
Tom,
I have reached out to you several times in regards to the in adequacy’s in training in discrepancies in pay regarding the fire Marshall’s office to no avail. However it is stead of looking at those you choose to attack very respectable men from this department. The fact is one does not have to be and IAAI CFI to investigate fires in the State of Louisiana. Most of the investigators at Saint Tammany fire protection district don’t even have CFI. We all have received fire investigative training from LSU FETI and Rayburn has had many years in the fire service. why you chose the tech them I will not understand when you have so much corruption at the top levels that would have you writing articles for days including people being paid as supervisors and not having any subordinates under them or a captain that was pay exorbitant amount of money only to chauffeur the state fire marshal himself. Instead of trying to make the hard working deputies of LOSFM look like sheriff peppers, how about look at the special services division where people are spending taxpayer money to go to classes that they don’t even use because they don’t go to fires unless a news crew is there.
I never attacked Rayborn. In fact, I pointed out his stellar reputation among his co-workers. The fact he was assigned to do something he was not qualified to do is no reflection on him. What more do you want? And don’t worry, I am going to do additional stories about the Fire Marshal Office.
What in your mind is qualified? Billot and Rayburn both have there Fire Investigator 1. Not all arson investigators have CFI CFEI; those are qualification that take years of fire investigation. I’m not understanding why you would deem him unqualified?
Fed Up, I agree with everything you have stated except the fact of being qualified. Yes they were Certified CFI thru LSU FETI as was I, but a number of cross trained individuals worked very few fires much less a fatality and are not Qualified to work a fatality of this magnitude. I was fortunate to have worked numerous fires so I was more at ease working by myself. Rayburn is a great guy and a standup guy as well. He did what a lot of guys wanted to do but either couldn’t afford to or didn’t have the guts. I applaud him for doing what he did. I keep thinking someone will take these people out that are ruining the agency but so far it has gotten worse. I feel sorry for those stuck there because of years of service.
Browning all but destroyed the OSFM in his first 8 years as State Fire Marshal. The state has become less safe with all of the political wheeling and dealing Browning has done. Done solely to secure his position of power. The average Deputy State Fire Marshal now has less than 5 years on the job as Browning has targeted and run off many good deputies with hundreds of years of knowledge, experience and dedication to protecting the citizens of Louisiana in his attempt to create his own little kingdom. Can you imagine the negative effect to any agency that has had an 80+ percent turnover in just 8 years? All due to the narcissism of Browning. At his very first agency meeting, Browning told the OSFM employees that in his opinion, a lot of them needed to go and he has made good on that statement. It should be of great concern to everyone for example, that the newly promoted Commander of OSFM Region-1 (New Orleans) is a young deputy with less than 4 years on the job and a mere 2 years out civil service probationary status. This individual, with very little experience or knowledge, is now tasked with the decision-making of one of the most complex areas of the state with regards to inspections and fire investigations. He is tasked with the supervision and training of deputies under his command. I’m not sure how you can properly train competent deputies when you have such limited knowledge or experience in the subject matter at hand yourself. Under the previous administration it took no less than four years before deputies attained the needed first-hand experience and were allowed to conduct the more complex inspections, let alone fire investigations. And that was only after the deputy was able to display the competency level required for progression to such work. This issue is not only happening in New Orleans but in other areas of the state as well. It is not uncommon for a deputy with only a couple months on the job and barely out of the POST Academy to be sent alone, in the middle of the night, to investigate a fire he or she is not certified or experienced to investigate. There is a very good reason that fire departments and law enforcement agencies have specialized divisions staffed with highly trained and experienced personnel to conduct such tasks. Browning has turned the OSFM into his own personal “Good Ole Boy Hiring Network,” hiring his buddies and paying them outrageous salaries while the loyal and dedicated OSFM classified deputies were pushed aside or out the door. Quite a few of these cronies walked in the door with rank as supervisors and large salaries even though they had no idea of what the OSFM actually even does. The only requirement for this hiring or promotion in the OSFM is a blind loyalty to Browning and not to the citizens of Louisiana or the agency they serve. Browning can sell ice to an Eskimo in the middle of a snow storm, so the masses have been fooled by his smooth talking. He leaves the dirty work to his henchmen such as Deputy Chiefs Thompson and Carruth so he can show clean hands to all those on the outside. It is time to end the Browning reign and restore the OSFM to the great and trustworthy agency it once was. The citizens of Louisiana and the hard working and dedicated deputies of the OSFM deserve as much. It’s time to send this unethical and corrupt Browning administration along with its cronies packing for the good of all involved.
Neither of the two deputies listed above are certified fire investigators per NFPA 921 and/or 1033 and should not be looking at a grass fire without supervision. Probably 90% of those looking at fires are not qualified. The Fire Marshals office used to have a great arson squad. All were highly trained, were able to define the causes of fires and were praised nation wide. That unfortunately has changed.
It’s apparent new aligning of the SFMO by doing away with specialized division and the crazy/stupid realignment that all deputies can do all things has created a Office where Deputies are proficient in all areas as they should in ordered to efficiency operate the office. Marshal Browning is a great player of political arena that’s why he stayed after new Governor took office. The Fire Marshal Office is not a Fire Department or Police Department it’s a regulatory agency that have specialized section to properly provide safe facilities for the citizens to live, shop, Worship, and play. Also some sections regulate the contractors who install, work on system providing life safety for our citizens. The current office doesn’t have this. Please continue to keep watch for us. You might also look into the division that Thompson ran with DPS. I understand the SFMO is under audit for improper spending of funds.
Wow! This is scary! How does someone confirm if someone with the Fire Marshals Office is a Certified Arson Investigator rather than an Inspector? I couldn’t verify that info on their website. There’s another case in Avoyelles parish that this information could effect. The Charles Mayeux case that’s scheduled for trial next month.
no one investigating the initial fire scene investigation of the above case was a certified fire investigators and the primary investigator had never investigated a homicide prior to investigating this murder case
Are you speaking about the Simmesport case or the Charles Mayeux, Jr case in Avoyelles parish?
the Evergreen Homicide
What a surprise. So, Chase Hawthorne and Travis Goudeau are not Certified Arson Investigators?
They are not IAAI(International Association of Arson Investigators)-Certified Fire Investigators, which is an optional certification.
They are IFSAC (International Fire Service Acrediation Congress) Level 1 Fire Investigators.
Would you happen to know of a website or where I could get the official titles of the LOSFM employees that worked the Charles Mayeux, Jr. case in Evergreen? I’d like to be able to print the info. It could come in extremely handy next month for his trial!
So, they were all still under qualified to handle the fire investigation in Evergreen (per LA law requirements/certifications), correct? Not trying to beat a dead horse…just trying to clarify
File a FOIA for the original dispatch emails (if they still do them) and the initial report and it will list the primary investigator and maybe any others.
Yes they were qualified, but only so much as a road deputy is qualified to perform a complex drug investigation.
Thank you both for the info.
neither met the requirements of NFPA 1033…this investigation was a CF from the get go
Thanks for the info Mud and Blood. It’s been a tremendous help!
Well whatta you know, the day AFTER his murder trial finished, the Avoyelles DA announced it decided to drop charges and not prosecute Charles Mayeux, Jr on the aggravated arson charges he was previously charged with. Even they knew there was no evidence against him! However, they waited until after his trial to announce this decision and talked about the “arson” throughout his entire murder trial. #corruption