Crime

Update: Daycare Operator Flees U.S. After Home Fire Kills 4 Babies

HOUSTON (AP/The Blaze) – A Houston home day care operator left the kids she was caring for without adult supervision, while a stovetop burner was on, before a blaze that killed four children and injured three others, according to an arrest affidavit made public Monday.

Investigators believe the burner was the source of last week’s fire.

Hours after the new details about the blaze were released, Houston fire department officials announced that day care operator Jessica Tata had fled the Unites States and they had asked the U.S. Marshals Service in Houston to help track her down.

Officials believe Tata has fled to Nigeria, where she is originally from.

Tata, 22, was charged late Sunday evening with reckless injury to a child involving serious bodily injury involving the death of 3-year-old Shomari Dickerson. The charge carries a sentence of two to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to file additional charges against Tata.

It was not immediately known whether Tata had an attorney. Attempts by The Associated Press to contact her family in person or by phone at multiple addresses and telephone listings have been unsuccessful.

Houston Fire Department investigators said in the affidavit that two of Tata’s neighbors described seeing her drive up on Thursday and go into the home where the day care center was located, then hearing her screaming seconds after she went in the front door. They saw smoke coming from inside.

“Both witnesses stated that it only took them a few seconds to arrive at the fire scene and they both stated they saw no adults or employees of the daycare either inside the building or running out of the building other than (Tata). It appeared to them that (Tata) was the only adult at the daycare,” the arrest affidavit states.

Tata had told neighbors immediately after the fire that it started in the kitchen while she was in the bathroom. Investigators said there was an electric stove in the kitchen with a pot containing oil on the burner.

The affidavit did not specify who left the burner on.

Two of the injured children remained hospitalized Monday in critical but stable condition.

Fire Department Assistant Chief Michelle McLeod declined to comment on how investigators determined Tata had fled or when she had left the country.

“Right now we are trying to confirm everything,” said U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Alfredo Perez. “Just because someone who is wanted flees to another country doesn‘t mean the United States isn’t going to get them back and have them face justice.”

Perez said if his agency confirms Tata is in Nigeria, it will ask that country to arrest her on behalf of the U.S. He said he believed the United States has an extradition treaty with Nigeria.

Tata’s bond has been set at $500,000.

Betty Ukera, the mother of 20-month-old Elizabeth Kajoh, one of the children who died in the blaze, said she was still processing the news that Tata had fled the country.

“Whatever she did that day resulted in the death of my daughter and perhaps it is human instinct to want to run away. I don’t know really,” she said. “Only God will give us justice in this matter and we leave it to him.”

Comments (59)

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  • Jas0n
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 9:00am

    Maybe it’s too easy to open a day care in Texas?

    Report Post »  
    • MightyBee27
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 9:37am

      no it’s not. she probably looked fine on paper. More regulations is not going to fix a daycare providers mental state.

      Report Post »  
  • gs425
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:54am

    I would lay money on this that that woman was here illegally and the authorities let her go anyway allowing her to flee.

    Report Post » gs425  
  • lildeb56
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:47am

    @Broker0101 – it’s called a news story, dumbass! You are blaming Beck for publishing a news story? How very elitist of you!

    Report Post » lildeb56  
  • 3boysamma
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:15am

    Has anyone said whether this was a licensed day care? If it was, had it been inspected? Did the paperwork reflect the fact that there was just one worker? Too many unanswered questions….

    Report Post »  
  • hogtrashhd
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 6:00am

    clairvoyance strikes again….

    Report Post »  
  • shellmen
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:30am

    In nigeria it is probably a misdemenor to kill babies.

    Report Post »  
  • grannyjojo
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:29am

    Please remember and pray for those babies and their families. When my children were growing up I made the decision to stay at home with them until after they entered school all day. It meant we went without ALOT of things but I couldn’t stomach the thought of anyone else taking care of them. I knew in my heart that noone could love them as I did and couldn’t/wouldn’t take care of them like I would. I also knew if I worked and they were in day care it would be like someone else RAISING them and I wanted the values of my husband and myself instilled into them. I have never condemned other people making different decisions in that regard but I‘m sure as glad I didn’t. Make the Lord give peace to the families of the babies who died and send comfort to the ones injured. Please remember these folks in your prayers, they surely need it.

    Every knee will bow and every tongue confess.
    God bless

    Report Post »  
  • wrs840
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 12:31am

    Folks, if you’re not ready to care for, raise, and Homeschool your progeny yourself in a traditional married family, you’re not ready to have kids. Sorry, that’s just the way it is these days.

    Report Post »  
  • Fina Biscotti
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:50pm

    It appears that a young person = 22 years old – was able to acquire a business = day care, who is an irresponsible moron.

    The fact that this scumbag – (yes scumbag) – has fled the country – to avoid taking responsibility for her actions = DEATHS of children in her care – indicates to me that she was running an ILLEGAL daycare center – and was more than likely another ILLEGAL ALIEN.

    Report Post »  
  • Mil Mom
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:49pm

    I’ve raised my own children, and at various times babysat several at one time, but how does one provide daycare for this many little ones without assistance?
    I couldn‘t imagine it the first time I read the story and still can’t fathom it. It would be so painful to get the call that your child’s daycare was on fire, but how those parents must be hating themselves for trusting her to provide for so many children at once. I’ve never read that there were other employees, has anyone else?

    Report Post » Mil Mom  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:47pm

    Liberal problem, leads to desaster, but blames republicans. Republicans want something done, but liberals would rather potty mouth republicans and let problem persist.

    Report Post »  
  • TumbleBumble
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:45pm

    Jessica can run, but she will never get away from what she did. To leave alone precious babies that their parents had entrusted her with – how could she?! Nightmares will haunt her for the rest of her life.

    Such an incredibly sad story.

    Report Post » TumbleBumble  
  • -KACK-
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:39pm

    that’s horrible. but i don’t see why it was posted to blaze other than because the article says “blaze” multiple times – OR – because she’s nigerian and gives the crazies something to distract themselves from the horror of the story. poor families. i hope they don’t read about it here and see retarded comments.

    Report Post » -KACK-  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:38pm

    If she is not in the US how can she have a bond, don’t your pay a bond to get out of jail once you have been charged and waiting for trial. Why would she need an attorney if she is not in the US and may not know that she has been charged with anything.

    Some details are missing. Does she just have an warrant out for her arrest, where does the bond come in or is it standard bond for the charge.

    It may be a long time for them even to find her in Nigeria and then start a long extradition hearing just because there is a extradition treaty does not mean that once found she would be put on the next plane back to the US.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
  • Salamander
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:10pm

    Guys, please tell EVERYONE they need to supervise 100% when heating oil on a stove; AND, NEVER COVER OIL while bringing it up to temperature (like when getting ready to cook popcorn)! This woman apparently left the house with her charges inside–an even greater misdeed! I was a Mr. Mom for 7 years because I couldn‘t bear to leave our child in ’child-care’ (we hired a babysitter, part-time, and had definite rules about where she could go and what she could do, including what intersections NOT to cross and to always keep us posted as to her visits to other babysitters in the neighborhood! I cannot imagine leaving my child in a multiple-child daycare center, private home or institution! I feel so badly for the parents and children involved in this sad situation! (P.S. my efforts aren‘t an ’achievement’ on my resume, and the courts sure didn‘t recognize my contributions in the subsequent divorce proceedings for being a ’deadbeat’ dad! Deadbeat, my ass, your honor!)

    Report Post »  
  • WAR PIGS CRAWLING
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:57pm

    I’m not privy to the investigation, BUT it may behoove the authorities to have considered her a flight risk…&…how much PC does it take to arrest someone in Texas….holy crap….arrest her first and then let the county/district attorney complete the formal complaint…

    Report Post » WAR PIGS CRAWLING  
  • V-Forge
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:56pm

    With any luck she decided to swim back home. She was here legally i assume????? if not then the parents should be out for litigious blood for the people that let her in. God rest the children and protect the injured… but not her. I’ll print 1,000 fliers with her picture saying wanted for witchcraft to mail to her Nigerian home town. They take care of that stuff there.

    Report Post » V-Forge  
  • Freddd
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:44pm

    Who ok’d her?

    Report Post »  
  • the iceman
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:43pm

    Unionized?

    Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:12pm

      Believe it or not, I was at a meeting last week about early childhood education. Someone reported that the SEICU (?) would be coming to our community to talk to independent private day care providers about joining the union.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • HillKid8
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:14am

      @Taquoshi
      That is how it happened in Michigan. They talk to a select group of connected people, send out voting cards to day care workers, the day care worker‘s don’t know whats going on, toss out the cards and WA LA ,the guys that set it up cast votes and it passes with 200 votes! All of a sudden you find you are in a union! Tell your day care providers to be on the look out. It worked so well in Michigan, they will and are going other places.

      Report Post »  
  • Freddd
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:43pm

    Do Jihad anyway you can. Kill them one at a time, 2, 3 whatever you can, in what ever way you can. Of course that was just a few months ago that order went out.

    They lie in wait.

    Report Post »  
  • LIBERTARIAN T38
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:42pm

    Oh, God, Obama and Hillary are going to use this as an excuse for the government to take over daycare…

    Report Post » LIBERTARIAN T38  
    • Showtime
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:27pm

      Don’t give them any help!

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • HillKid8
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 9:53am

      @LibertarianT38
      The day care business hear in Michigan already had its take over, we were hijacked by unions without even knowing it. With a small, fly by night vote,all day care that takes state subsidies is now union and paying union dues. Do we get better day care as a result?, no, but unions get more taxpayer money that way. Did the day care workers get benefits?, none. Sad but true.

      Report Post »  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:42pm

    My prayers are with the families of the childern.

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • Ezekiel
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:39pm

    May prayers go out to the families of these children. I cannot say that I agree with only a maximum of ten years, can you truly put a price on the deaths of three little ones? I know that forgiveness can only be given through the sacrificed blood of Christ, I am just glad that I am not God right now… I shutter to think of it.

    Report Post » Ezekiel  
  • randy
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:35pm

    Illegal Alien?

    Report Post » randy  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:42pm

      Pssssst…..
      We call them Democrat voter base these days
      :P

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • biggreenboo
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:23am

      Hey Whiz, Dild0 head is sensitive this morning… I would start off with the two liners and work (slowly) down to the one liners as not to ruffle his feathers.

      Report Post »  
    • Ditto Head
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 11:32am

      @WHIZ

      There’s four dead babies here and all you have to post are stupid one-liners? You’re a jerk!
      (is that better, Blaze?)

      Report Post » Ditto Head  
    • Ditto Head
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 11:35am

      Oh, I get it, Blaze. People can say “*****”, but are not allowed to spell ephithets in leet. Roger.

      Report Post » Ditto Head  
  • fertlmind
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:31pm

    Another hero of the liberal left
    Killed babies and ran to another country

    Report Post » fertlmind  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:34pm

      Officials believe Tata has fled to Nigeria,
      ————–
      where she has a prince waiting for her if she gives him $ 50,000

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • broker0101
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:45pm

      Leave it to you Beck-Bots to immediately politicize a story like this. You are more like the Daily Kos’ers than you could ever imagine. Except they are better writers.

      broker0101  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:47pm

      I feel desperately sorry for the parents. My two small girls are ih the room as I write this and I can’t imagine the grief of those mothers and fathers. The will probably get the babysitter, but what difference will it really make.

      Report Post »  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:53pm

      mmmmmmmm hummm

      Report Post »  
    • fertlmind
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:55pm

      broker0101
      What’s a Daily Kos’er?
      If you can‘t speak english you shouldn’t post here
      liberals…..must be the union controlled public schools that causes them to go crazy

      Report Post » fertlmind  
    • Showtime
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:17pm

      @broker0101
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:45pm
      Leave it to you Beck-Bots to immediately politicize a story like this. You are more like the Daily Kos’ers than you could ever imagine. Except they are better writers.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Broker, what is wrong with you? Gripe Moan Complain Criticize
      We get just as tired of your being here as you get reading The Blaze.

      Are you just too dense to find a solution to your problem? It’s a simple one.
      Have you EVER found a site to your liking? I mean, one that isn’t rated XXXX?
      If not, how about finding one and comment there, because you have made it all too clear that you don’t like The Blaze or anyone here!

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • MrButcher
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:19pm

      cheers to broker

      good eye

      Report Post » MrButcher  
    • HappyStretchedThin
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 11:43pm

      good eye, my eye
      Broker is malliterate.
      Frtlmind is NOT politicizing the story, he’s PASTICHING politicizers. He’s illustrating the immorality of a political mindset with this story, yes, but that’s not politicizing the story. He says nothing about the politics or ideology of Tata herself.
      Broker thinks the Daily Kos crew writes better because he himself is an inept reader.

      Report Post » HappyStretchedThin  
    • Ditto Head
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:10am

      I have four children. None of them have ever spent one single day of their lives in a “day-care”. This is why. No “day-care” worker could or would care for a child as well as the child’s parents. My wife and I both have to work, but, we make sure our schedules allow one of us to be with our children at all times. It can be done. Four days a week we’re like two ships passing in the night as I get home, but the kids are safe. I feel terrible for the parents of these babies, and I pray God will bring them comfort. So sad. I‘m sure the lady who’s responsible must be devastated, but, as I tell the kids, you can be severely punished even for accidents, so you’d better be VERY careful.

      Report Post » Ditto Head  
    • 1TrueOne55
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:23am

      It is sad that some on here have no respect for the loss of life at such a young age. And to post political rants about this is really abhorrent and I am sure that Glenn is not the least bit amused that this is happening on this site. I pray for the families that have lost and injured children in the incident and that God will talk to TATA and let her know that there can be forgiveness for mistakes but you first have to confess to them and live with what consequences may come your way.

      And @showtime I believe that Broker0101 might be a paid “informant” by the Great Schwartz/Soros

      Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
    • APatriotFirst
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:55am

      I did a search using ……….. daycare operator home fire kills 4 babies ……………..
      and got more info on this

       
    • SnapTie
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 6:26am

      So the cops figured she went Taco Bell? [RUN FOR THE BORDER]

      SnapTie  
    • biggreenboo
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:18am

      Ah, good morning Broke@ss, always a pleasure to see your trollings so early in the morning. By the way… how is being poor?
      See you at work.

      Your boss,
      BGB

      Report Post »  
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