Thread: Houston 'Home Day Care' Fire

"......Tata told investigators the fire started in the kitchen while she was in the bathroom [but] surveillance video shows she was at a nearby Target store at the time...."




Woman charged in Texas fire returns to Houston
Tue Mar 22, 5:58 am ET

HOUSTON – The owner of a Houston home day care where a fire last month killed four children was returned to Texas from Nigeria to face charges early Tuesday.

Jessica Tata was brought to a Houston jail, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office's website, after spending Monday in the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta.

The 22-year-old day care operator arrived in the United States from Nigeria before dawn Monday, the U.S. Marshals Service said. Tata was taken into custody in Atlanta, then waived extradition to Texas.

Tata was initially taken into custody Saturday in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Authorities believe she fled to the West African nation two days after the Feb. 24 fire, which also injured three children. Investigators believe Tata went shopping and left all seven children alone before a stove-top burner that was left on ignited the blaze.

Tata has been charged with manslaughter, injury to a child and child abandonment. The manslaughter charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The U.S. Marshals Service, which headed the search for Tata, said agents with the international police agency Interpol had been in Port Harcourt since Friday and were able to locate Tata based on leads and information from Interpol Washington, the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security and other authorities.

Tata had been on the U.S. marshals' list of the 15 most wanted fugitives and the agency had offered a reward of up to $25,000. The agency said it has received some claims for the reward money and it is working through them to determine their validity.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110322/..._day_care_fire

I was babysitting at 14 and knew never to leave the kids alone even for a minute. To leave 7 toddlers alone to go shopping is just mind boggling

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She is an idiot. Leaving young children home alone is illegal, and everyone knows to never leave a pot on the stove unattended when there are young children in the house, ever. This was not an "accident" and should be considered 2nd degree MURDER if you ask me.

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I am so angry that this woman was not detained immediately and was allowed her to leave the country. I'm sure karmic justice will be served in the end but the families of the children deserve to see her tried for her crimes and ultimately see her punished if her guilt was established.

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How on earth does a 22 year old own an entire household daycare? And have the means to bolt to Nigeria?

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I am a daycare provider. Your right not everyone is able to be home with thier children, I provide a good service for many families. I would not advise anyone to leave seven children with a 22yr old. Daycare takes a special kind of person to do and a 21 yr old is not it. They barely know how to take care of themselves. Just be mindful of who you leave your most precious jewels with....

How on earth does a 22 year old own an entire household daycare? And have the means to bolt to Nigeria?

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I am a daycare provider. Your right not everyone is able to be home with thier children, I provide a good service for many families. I would not advise anyone to leave seven children with a 22yr old. Daycare takes a special kind of person to do and a 21 yr old is not it. They barely know how to take care of themselves. Just be mindful of who you leave your most precious jewels with....