GUILTY TX - 4 kids dead after in-home day care fire, Houston, 24 Feb 2011

[jjenny]

"The operator of a home-based day care that caught fire on Thursday, leaving three toddlers dead and four others hurt, went shopping at a nearby store and returned to the west Houston child care center she runs possibly minutes before or just as the blaze erupted, said a law enforcement source familiar with the case."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7444462.html

 

[fhc]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7982112

FOURTH CHILD DIES

We're told the child who died Saturday was 18-month-old Elias Castillo. Investigators want to know if the daycare provider, Jessica Tata, was inside of the house when the fire started. Two young men who tried to rescue the children have both repeatedly stated they saw Tata pull up in her driveway and then they say she started screaming for help.

 

[fhc]

"The operator of a home-based day care that caught fire on Thursday, leaving three toddlers dead and four others hurt, went shopping at a nearby store and returned to the west Houston child care center she runs possibly minutes before or just as the blaze erupted, said a law enforcement source familiar with the case."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7444462.html

The 3rd victim's name and age that died on Thursday, Shamari Dickerson, 3

also, JT was overheard telling her mother to call an attorney

 

[fhc]

http://www.kvue.com/news/116975768.html

Neighbors are telling arson investigators they saw Tata drive up to the day care around 2 p.m. They said she opened the door to the house and smoke poured out, according to our 11 News source. The neighbors also said they saw groceries on the lawn and inside the van.

A source with the Houston Police Department told 11 News they have surveillance video of Tata at a nearby grocery store around the time the fire broke out.


I'm going to ask a mod to move this thread to Crimes - Spotlight on Children.

 

[fhc]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7446883.html

Elizabeth Kajoh, 19 months, was a cheerful child, her parents said, who loved the color pink, was happy to share her toys and was just learning to talk.

Her mother is a 3rd grade teacher and her father is a nurse. Elizabeth left behind a 5 yr old sister, too.

 

[kgeaux]

"The operator of a home-based day care that caught fire on Thursday, leaving three toddlers dead and four others hurt, went shopping at a nearby store and returned to the west Houston child care center she runs possibly minutes before or just as the blaze erupted, said a law enforcement source familiar with the case."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7444462.html

That is totally inexcusable. How can anyone think it is ok to leave 7 babies alone, even for a short time? I read that her brother was denying she ever left the home, but neighbors are saying they saw groceries scattered on the lawn and in the van. I hope someone took photos.

The 3rd victim's name and age that died on Thursday, Shamari Dickerson, 3

also, JT was overheard telling her mother to call an attorney

She's going to need one. She will probably soon be facing very serious charges, and she will need someone who understands the legal system to help her. (I'm not saying I want her to get off of the charges, but I do believe we all need representation when we are in court.)

 

[katydid23]

HOW COULD SOMEONE LEAVE A HOUSE FULL OF TODDLERS ALL ALONE??????

Was this woman out of her mind? And did she really have something cooking on the stove while she was gone?

She must have been crazy, not just negligent. IMOO

 

[kgeaux]

HOW COULD SOMEONE LEAVE A HOUSE FULL OF TODDLERS ALL ALONE??????

Was this woman out of her mind? And did she really have something cooking on the stove while she was gone?

She must have been crazy, not just negligent. IMOO

The story just keeps getting sadder and sadder for me. First, I learned today that another little one has lost the fight for their life. And when reading one of the articles today, I read that one of the rescuers entered the home, saw a little boy with his arms outstretched, and was forced back by flames and smoke; he was unable to rescue the little boy. I just can't imagine how badly that man is suffering right now. I truly hope he gets some counseling to help him get through this.

Praying God's comfort and peace for the victims and their families, AND for those who tried to help and could not.

 

[fhc]

She has hired a lawyer. At the scene on Thursday, JT was overheard telling her mother to call a lawyer.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7447186.html

 

[jjenny]

She has hired a lawyer. At the scene on Thursday, JT was overheard telling her mother to call a lawyer.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7447186.html

That article says her neighbor believes she left something cooking on the stove when she went to the store, allegedly leaving the house full of toddlers. That just boggles my mind, if true.

 

[fhc]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7448496.html

The last two children still hospitalized from a home daycare center fire in Houston are showing signs of improvement.

Jo Ann Zuniga is spokeswoman for the Shiners Hospital for Children in Galveston. She says both children remain in critical but stable condition Sunday but are showing signs of improvement.

http://www.khou.com/news/local/Gran...-victims-Theres-no-forgiveness-117009788.html

The grandmother of two victims of a fire at a west Houston day care center said she’s extremely angry after hearing the provider might not have been home when the blaze started.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7447814.html

Children hurt in fire likely will need years of counseling, psychologist says

 

[jjenny]

She has been charged with a reckless injury to a child. Not sure I understand why these particular charges of injury considering that four kids are actually dead.
"Jessica Rene Tata, 22, is being charged with reckless injury to a child, involving serious bodily injury, said Donna Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7448713.html

 

[fhc]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7984203

DA's office is requesting no bond be set in the case.

If convicted, Tata would face from two to 10 years in prison. Hawkins declined to say if additional charges would be filed.

Four children -- 18-month-old Elias Castillo, 19-month-old Elizabeth Kajoh, 20-month-old Kendall Stradford and one other child -- died following the fire that broke out there on Thursday.

Tata is reportedly not in custody.

 

[fhc]

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110228-child-care-center-fire-arrested

Child Care Operator Arrested in Atlanta
Bond set at $500,000
Updated: Monday, 28 Feb 2011, 1:51 PM CST

Officials say she may have been trying to leave the country.

A source within the Houston Fire Department tells FOX 26 News that 22-year-old Jessica Tata was arrested in Georgia. Tata is a native of Nigeria, and sources say that's where the daycare owner may have been heading before being caught.

 

[kgeaux]

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110228-child-care-center-fire-arrested

Child Care Operator Arrested in Atlanta
Bond set at $500,000
Updated: Monday, 28 Feb 2011, 1:51 PM CST

Officials say she may have been trying to leave the country.

A source within the Houston Fire Department tells FOX 26 News that 22-year-old Jessica Tata was arrested in Georgia. Tata is a native of Nigeria, and sources say that's where the daycare owner may have been heading before being caught.

I am so glad they caught her before she left the country.

It's hard to guess at her motivation, but it sure sends my hinkey-meter into overdrive when someone tries to flee the country.

 

[fhc]

http://twitter.com/StephenDeanTV2

Police say daycare owner Jessica Tata was shopping for 13 minutes, ending just 5 mins b4 911 call of fatal fire

 

[DairyGirl]

I am so glad they caught her before she left the country.

It's hard to guess at her motivation, but it sure sends my hinkey-meter into overdrive when someone tries to flee the country.

Why wasn't she charged with murder?

 

[jjenny]

I am so glad they caught her before she left the country.

It's hard to guess at her motivation, but it sure sends my hinkey-meter into overdrive when someone tries to flee the country.

If I were to try and guess her motivation, I'd guess she figured out she is going to be charged. If she were actually trying to leave the country, she wouldn't be the first one to try and do so while facing potential criminal charges. By the way, she might have managed to actually leave the country and is not in custody. Just great. Does US have an extradition treaty with Nigeria?

"HOUSTON - First on FOX: A source tells FOX 26 News the woman facing a criminal charge after last week’s fatal child care center has left the country and is in Nigeria."
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110228-child-care-center-fire-arrested:banghead:

 

[jjenny]

Updated info. They have not arrested her. She apparently has left the US and is now in Nigeria.
Why hasn't she been arrested right away? Now, good luck getting her back up here.

"Earlier Monday, sources said Tata is a native of Nigeria, and that's where the daycare operator may have been heading. Later in the afternoon, HFD confirmed that Tata had left the United States."
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110228-child-care-center-fire-arrested
:banghead:

 

[momtective]

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110228-child-care-center-fire-arrested

Child Care Operator Arrested in Atlanta
Bond set at $500,000
Updated: Monday, 28 Feb 2011, 1:51 PM CST

Officials say she may have been trying to leave the country.

A source within the Houston Fire Department tells FOX 26 News that 22-year-old Jessica Tata was arrested in Georgia. Tata is a native of Nigeria, and sources say that's where the daycare owner may have been heading before being caught.

Apparently she did leave the Country! :banghead:

HFD: Child Caretaker Facing Criminal Charge is in Nigeria
Bond set at $500,000

Updated: Monday, 28 Feb 2011, 4:10 PM CST
Published : Monday, 28 Feb 2011, 12:00 PM CST

HOUSTON - First on FOX: A source tells FOX 26 News the woman facing a criminal charge after last week’s fatal child care center has left the country and is in Nigeria.

A source within the Houston Fire Department tells FOX 26 News that 22-year-old Jessica Tata may have left the country through a flight out of Georgia.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110228-child-care-center-fire-arrested