A second individual has come forward with more information which illustrates the manner in which the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (LOSFM) mishandled a suspected arson investigation in St. Tammany Parish late last week.
The bodies of Nanette Krentel, 49, and two of her pets were recovered from a residential FIRE last Friday. She was the wife of St. Tammany Fire District No. 12 Chief Stephen Krentel. Early but unconfirmed reports indicate she had a bullet wound to the head.
State law requires that any agency investigating a homicide assign as its lead investigator a certified arson investigator but LOSFM instead assigned an inspector, Henry B. Rayborn, to the investigation.
A former LOSFM investigator voiced his concern to LouisianaVoice over the lack of professionalism and inadequate training in that fire and a string of fires set in an Avoyelles Parish nursing home. The fire marshal’s investigation of the nursing home fires has resulted in the arrest of an apparent innocent nurse employed at the facility and the suspension of her license. Her case is scheduled to go before an Avoyelles Parish Grand Jury next Thursday.
A second former employee of LOSFM has now come forward to provide more information to LouisianaVoice. Among the blunders committed by the fire marshal’s office in that investigation:
- A perimeter was not set up to secure the crime scene;
- Fire Marshal investigators lacked proper equipment and experience to handle such a complex scene;
- The lead investigator had no experience and was not comfortable handling a death investigation;
- Private industry fire investigators secured more evidence than the numerous SFM deputies on scene;
- Private investigators contacted Brant Thompson, who immediately reassigned the case to Jason Johnston. This was after the investigation was already screwed up;
- Rayborn, one of the State Fire Marshal investigators on the scene, resigned after confronting Thompson on the issues of lack of training, experience, etc.;
- The still-active investigation is now being handled by Rick Jones.
“This investigation is very complex and believed to have foul play involved,” our latest source said. “The State Fire Marshal’s office is slacking big time. This will eventually come forward as we believe the victim’s husband, who knows State Fire Marshal Butch Browning well, is extremely disappointed with the investigation so far.”
There is more to this, just by looking and reading the information coming out of this shows that there is much more. House fires such as this are rare, I would venture to say that unless the department took their time and walked to this fire this house was completely destroyed by looking at the pictures. St.Tammany is well known for it’s crooked government I hope we get someone who can’t be bought to investigate this thoroughly.
Too disturbing for words …
Is the State Fire Marshal’s office under the Department of Public Safety Office of State Police? Seems like State Police, Department of Corrections and the Fire Marshal’s Office have a lot in common. Corruption, lack of good leadership and the attitude that the heads of these departments feel that they can do what they want and are untouchable. Why is our governor letting this happen? Where is the honor in this? God help us all.
Yes, the State Fire Marshal and the Louisiana State Police are both under the umbrella of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
Enough said.
how can one contact you anonymously?
louisianavoice@cox.net
Anonymously. There are internet sights that you can send anonymously. Google send anonymous email and email it to his address.
It is Good to see the fed up Staff in the Fire Marshal’s Office coming forward. Under the DPS Public Safety Services I think more may come out with The Legislative Auditor’s Investigation currently underway. At Least Let’s Hope So!
Meanwhile, where is the Mainstream Media at on all this corruption? better yet, the US Justice Department, FBI, Attorney General, Inspector General, and East Baton Rouge District Attorney? Heads In The Sand All of Them!
The East Baton Rouge District Attorney would much rather harass contractors and petty criminals than do anything regarding official corruption. It’s very disappointing.
Harassing contractors?! Are you kidding? It’s about time that someone called these scam artists to task and I applaud the D.A.’s in all parishes for going after these thieves aggressively. We did learn from Katrina, Gustavo, and Ike that there is an entire segment of population who may or may not have any construction skill but damn sure will walk away with your last dime while doing little or no work. There are plenty of good contractors out there but the slime the DA is hauling aren’t among them. While the list of law enforcement heads can all take action against government corruption I couldn’t help but notice you single out the EBR District Attorney for unwarranted criticism. If faced with a case of official corruption there are a number of people I would go through (FBI, Attorney General) before I would even think of going to any local DA. With the amount of non-violent and violent crime in Baton Rouge at such a high level I do believe the man is quite busy with that, more so than any of the number of state and federal groups who appropriately should be investigating the mess at LOFSA. Mr. Moore, please continue your almost overwhelming battle to defend EBR citizens, especially the ones trying to rebuild their lives, from the unscrupulous criminals, including shady contractors, who continue to prey on us. This is what we chose you to do, not chase state level politicians.
The Louisiana Judiciary Commission’s Office of Special Counsel won’t even look at corrupt lawyers and judges. There is no one holding the judicial branch of government accountable in any way shape or form. Expect things to get worse.
Agree with Bob in BR. Local DA’s have a civil section to handle “corruption”. Someone might want to rehash Walter Reed and Lane Carson civil link which as I recall, was very lucrative and productive. Sammy Gill did the story I think. Mr. Moore, in my opinion, just got slapped for doing a good job with BRAVE funds and our totally Republican controlled state and fed legis can’t stand it that we elected a Democrat as Governor. They are jealous cowards. love always ron thompson