The state has revoked the operating license for a Cedar City group home where a counselor was beaten and killed last week.
The state investigated the Maximum Life Skills Academy after two 17-year-olds allegedly beat a group counselor in the head with a bat March 8 and then stuffed his body in a closet.
The revocation, which is effective March 26, came after a preliminary investigation by state officials. More charges could be added after a thorough review to be conducted once police have finished their work, the Department of Human Services said Monday.
Licensing officials said the home committed three violations, including having only one employee on duty when the alleged beating occurred.
"State rules require two employees at all times," state Licensing Director Ken Stettler said in a release.
After allegedly beating counselor Anson Arnett, prosecutors claim teenagers Jesse Simmons and Sean Graham then stole various items from the facility, and fled in the academy's van.
Arnett, 31, was flown to a Salt Lake City hospital, where he died Tuesday, the same day the suspects were arrested in Las Vegas. They will be extradited to face murder charges in Iron County.
The group home also failed to obtain background checks for Arnett and several other counselors at the home before giving them direct access to children, the department said.
Department spokeswoman Carol Sisco said Monday she did not know whether or not the counselors without background checks were still working at the home.
Licensing officials said the facility also violated National Interstate Compact Laws, which required the facility to contact state officials in Delaware before taking Simmons, originally from Wilmington, Del., into their care. Graham is from Rockville, Md.
The Maximum Life Skills Academy, a group home for troubled youths ages 12 to 17, was licensed for up to 11 children. There were six youths at the facility when the incident occurred, and there are currently four at the home.
As of Monday, the facility had not indicated if it will appeal, Sisco said.
The facility has 10 working days to do so. If it does, the facility can continue to operate with the four youths currently in the home, but cannot add additional clients.
A judge with the Department of Human Services would then hear arguments before ruling on the license revocation, Sisco said.
"If they don't appeal, we will close them right then," Sisco said.
Calls made by The Associated Press to the home Monday went unanswered.
Simmons and Graham are charged as adults with murder and could face the death penalty. They also face aggravated kidnapping and theft charges.