1st March, 2011
A 22-year old Nigerian girl has fled the United States of America after fire killed four kids at a daycare centre where she works.
The girl, Jessica Tata, the operator of a Houston home day care centre was charged Monday with reckless injury to a child. She fled to Nigeria after being charged, the Houston Fire Department confirmed.
Authorities said the department has asked the U.S. Marshalâ€
Tata was charged after the fire killed four children and injured three others at the day care last week, the Harris County district attorneyâ€
A warrant was issued for Tataâ€
Tata is charged in connection with the death of 3-year-old Shomari Dickerson.
If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.
Itâ€
Tata is accused of leaving Shomari and six other toddlers alone at the day care while she went to the grocery store, according to the charging document.
“Iâ€
Storms believes Tata should face capital murder charges in the case.
Meanwhile, Tataâ€
“Since the accident, my family has never been the same, and I donâ€
Josie said she hasnâ€
Her brother wouldnâ€
“We feel very, very bad for what happened to the families,†said Ron Tata. “We love them and we pray for them every single day. We are opening up a benefit account.â€
Investigators believe the fire started in a pot of oil left unattended on the kitchen stove.
Two neighbours told investigators they saw Tata drive up to the day care around 2 p.m. When she opened the front door, smoke poured out and she began screaming for help.
The neighbours also said they saw groceries on the lawn and inside the van.
A source with the Houston Police Department told KHOU they have surveillance video of Tata at a nearby grocery store around the time the fire broke out.
Seven toddlers were pulled from the burning building and rushed to area hospitals. Doctors werenâ€
Shomariâ€
No specific information on the childrenâ€