Thread: TX Woman charged in day care fire has fled to Nigeria

Former classmates: Jessica Tata was accused of arson in high school

by Leigh Frillici / 11 News
khou.com
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Updated yesterday at 2:24 PM

HOUSTON – The day care blaze that killed four children and injured three others wasn’t Jessica Tata’s first experience with fire, according to former classmates at Katy Taylor High School.

In the days since the deadly fire, there has been a growing chorus of phone calls and e-mails to 11 News saying Tata was accused of setting two fires at the school back in 2002.

"We sat outside for two to three hours," said one classmate, who did not want his identity revealed.　"Sure enough, we had found out that Jessica had caught the freshmen girls bathroom on fire and the main campus bathroom on fire."

"We received the word that Jessica had set a fire in not one, but two locations," said another classmate, who also did want her name revealed. "She (Jessica) had set fire to the east wing and west wing by hanging toilet paper from the ceiling."

Authorities would not confirm the Taylor High School fire on the record, citing the ongoing investigation into the day care fire.　

Yet, more than a dozen people told the same story with the same details. None wanted to be identified publicly, and some said they were afraid of angering Tata’s family.　

But because of the day care fire, former classmates felt it was important to speak out about Tata. And they did not have a flattering impression of her.

"She was kind of the crazy, loud girl who would run through the halls and sometimes bark at random people," said a former classmate.

It’s a stark contrast to the good things people had to say about Tata in the hours and days immediately following the day care fire.

"Very compassionate, loves children," Pastor Vera Jones Tompkins told 11 News on the day of the fire.　 "She was at a local church and that’s all she did was keep children."

Tata is now facing 10 criminal charges in the case.

Authorities allege she wasn’t in the day care when the fire started, because she'd left the children to go shopping.

By Monday, authorities said Tata had fled the country and was thought to be in Nigeria.

Tata’s family would not answer any questions about Jessica when they met with the press.

But the images from the fire were disturbing enough to prompt a lot of other people to call 11 News with another story about another fire a long time ago.

http://www.khou.com/news/cnn/Former-cla ... 02603.html

I wonder what really happen at the day care center, and why flee to Nigeria if she is a citizen of the U.S.? How long has Tata had a Visa Passport?

Originally Posted by Pisces_2010

I wonder what really happen at the day care center, and why flee to Nigeria if she is a citizen of the U.S.? How long has Tata had a Visa Passport?

One thing we know for sure is Tata was shopping at Target. we may never hear the rest of the truth because everyone here in Houston is too busy pointing fingers and covering up.

Originally Posted by bigtex

Originally Posted by Pisces_2010

I wonder what really happen at the day care center, and why flee to Nigeria if she is a citizen of the U.S.? How long has Tata had a Visa Passport?

One thing we know for sure is Tata was shopping at Target. we may never hear the rest of the truth because everyone here in Houston is too busy pointing fingers and covering up.

I just hope the families of the children that lost their lives in the day care fire and those still suffering in the hospital will receive some type of justice. A sad situation indeed.

Day-care fire suspect jailed in Atlanta
By DALE LEZON HOUSTON CHRONICLE
March 21, 2011, 11:31AM


A woman who fled to Nigeria after a fire at the Houston day care center she operated killed four children has been returned to the United States and jailed in Atlanta, authorities said today.

Jessica Tata faces 14 charges, including four counts of manslaughter, in connection with the Feb. 24 blaze at Jackie's Child Care.

She is being held at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta, awaiting transfer to Texas, officials said.

Fulton County Sheriff's Department officials said Tata, 22, waived extradition to Texas during a hearing this morning before a magistrate judge. She is waiting in jail for Texas authorities to pick her up and transport her to Harris County, officials said.

Members of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit and U.S. Marshals Service were in the courtroom.

Officials have said that Tata, 22, left seven children unattended and oil cooking on the stove while she shopped at Target. She fled to Nigeria before being charged in the case.

Jessica Tata had been on the Marshals Service's most-wanted list. The service declined to comment on the case.

Her brother, Ron Tata, said Jessica Tata had turned herself in to authorities in Nigeria Saturday. The Marshals Service, in a press release, referred to Tata's "capture," and today the agency's Houston spokesman, Alfredo Perez, refused to clarify whether Tata turned herself in willingly or whether deputies captured her by surprise.

His relatives in Nigeria said workers at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos traveled to Port Harcourt to take her into custody, Ron Tata said.

dale.lezon@chron.com

Chronicle reporter Mike Morris contributed to this story

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chr ... 84319.html