U.S. Marshals Add Woman Day Care Provider To Their 15 Most Wanted List
Posted: Tuesday, March 08, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
The USMS has added Jessica Renee Tata to their list of 15 most wanted fugitives. Tata reportedly owned and operated the Jackie’s Day Care center in Houston, Texas, is charged with 4 counts of manslaughter, six counts of reckless injury to a child, three counts of abandoning a child under 15 and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
A Department of Justice release reports that on February 24, 2011, Tata is alleged to have left the premises of her day care center, leaving seven children in the house with a pot of oil boiling on the stove.
The Houston Fire Department investigated the cause of the fire and determined that the pot of oil on the stove was the source of ignition of the building fire. Police investigation found a video surveillance tape showing Tata as she entered a nearby store at 1:09 P.M. and as she left at 1:24 P.M.
Fire Department investigators attempted to interview Tata on the morning of February 25 but she refused to answer any questions concerning the incident. Another attempt was made later that day and she referred them to her Attorney. They were unable to contact her after this.
At this point authorities called in the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offender and Fugitive Task Force. They found that Tata had flown to Georgia on February 24 and is suspected to have left the country
“Jessica Tata chose to flee from the consequences of her actions that left four innocent children dead,” said T. Michael Earp, U.S. Marshals Service Assistant Director of Investigative Operations Division. “We will do everything within our power to ensure she has her day of judgment in a U.S. court of law.” (Justice Department press release; March 4, 2011)
A warrant was issued for Tata’s arrest on February 28 after a the 180th District Court charged her with reckless injury to a child. Then on March 1, the court charged her with six counts of reckless injury to a child and three counts of abandoning a child under 15, both charges are felony offenses. On the following day, the Southern District of Texas charged her with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. An Interpol red notice was also posted. Subsequently, the grand jury indicted her on four counts of manslaughter.
Tata is described as a black female, 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. Black hair and brown eyes. A reward of up to $25,000 has been offered for information leading directly to her arrest.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office or the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102.
Addendum: (Press release update March 21, 2011) Most Wanted Capture - Jessica Tata, a U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitive, arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta shortly after 5:00 a.m. on a flight from Lagos International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria. Tata was captured Saturday in Port Harcourt, Nigeria by Interpol and U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security agents. In February, Tata, who owned and operated Jackie’s Day Care in Houston, allegedly left the premises leaving seven children alone in the house with a pot of oil on a burning stove resulting in a deadly fire.
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