The Department of Health and Human Services "knew of the conviction, but was not troubled by it". Okay, what is wrong here?! A department head learns of it through a news release and then reverses the job offer. Isn't this an agency for the public's health and safety? What made them even consider the guy in the first place?!

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http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld...n/11138569.htm

Job offer to convicted killer rescinded

The Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. - The state of Nebraska made and then took back a job offer to a man convicted of murdering Dian Fossey, the American wildlife researcher whose work in Africa was the subject of the movie "Gorillas in the Mist."

The Health and Human Services System said Monday that Wayne Richard McGuire had been hired as program director of a mental-health office.

The offer was withdrawn after The Associated Press reported that McGuire was found guilty in absentia in the 1985 slaying of Fossey, who was hacked to death at a jungle camp in Rwanda.

McGuire, who denies involvement in Fossey's killing and recently worked for a mental-health agency in Oklahoma, said his conviction didn't come up in the interview process. He didn't immediately return a phone message left after the state withdrew its offer.

Earlier, HHS spokeswoman Kathie Osterman said the state agency knew of the conviction and was not troubled by it.

State Sen. Ernie Chambers said that when he called HHS Director Nancy Montanez about the AP story, she was unaware of McGuire's background.

"When she was made aware of that, she immediately directed that the offer be withdrawn," Chambers said.

HHS officials said they would issue a statement later.