(CBS/AP) HOUSTON - Defense attorneys for Jessica Tata rested their case this week in the murder trial that accuses the former day care worker of neglecting her duties while a fire at her home killed four children and injured three others.

Tata, 24, faces four counts of felony murder and is currently on trial for one child's death. She faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Closing arguments will begin after prosecutors call at least one rebuttal witness, an engineering expert who testified last week.

Investigators said the fire happened after oil in a pan ignited on a stovetop burner that was left on. Tata is accused of leaving the seven children she was caring for alone at her home to go shopping in February 2011 when the oil ignited. Her attorneys said she didn't intend to harm the children.

Jessica Tata Day Care Trial: Defense expert says refrigerator may have caused fatal fire

CBSnews.com

November 7, 2012

(CBS/AP) HOUSTON -  An engineering expert testifying at the felony murder trial of day care operator Jessica Tata says a refrigerator, not a stove, might have caused the fire at her Houston home day care that killed four children and injured three others.

Defense witness Richard Bonyata testified Wednesday in a Houston courtroom that evidence he reviewed suggests the stove was off at the time of the fire and that damage to the refrigerator suggests it could have been the source of the blaze.

Earlier, engineering expert David Reiter testified for prosecutors that the stove was on during the fire.

Prosecutors allege the 2011 blaze at Tata's day care facility began after oil in a pan ignited on a stovetop burner she had left on when she left the house.

Jessica Tata Day Care Trial: Fire that killed 4 children may have been caused by malfunctioning stove, attorneys says

CBSnews.com

November 5, 2012

(CBS/AP) HOUSTON - Attorneys for a Texas day care worker charged with murder said Friday that the fire that killed four children under her care may have been sparked by a malfunctioning stove.

A forensic engineer testified for prosecutors Tuesday, disputing the defense's argument and saying that he found no problems after examining the stove in Jessica Tata's home.

Prosecutors said the fire started after 24-year-old Tate left the children at her Houston home while she went shopping in February 2011. Investigators said the blaze started after oil in a pan ignited on a stovetop burner that had been left on. Three other children, ranging from 16 months to 3 years old, were also injured.

Tata's attorneys say she didn't intend to harm the children. She is charged with four counts of felony murder but is currently being tried in the death of 16-month-old Elias Castillo. She faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Jessica Tata Trial: Store manager testifies that day care worker told him she left day care kids alone with stove on

CBSnews.com

October 31, 2012

(CBS) -- A Target store manager told jurors Friday that the day care worker charged with felony murder after four children in her care were killed in a fire, told him she left the gas on while she went shopping, reports CBS affiliate KHOU.

Jessica Tata left the children alone on February 24, 2011 while she visited two stores that day, first Walmart and then Target, according to prosecutors.

The day care caught fire while she was gone, killing four of the children.

At the time smoke and fire was sweeping through the house, Tata was allegedly in Target disputing the price of a pair of pants, prosecutors said.

A former manager testified that he told Tata she could fill out a survey to make a formal complaint, but she told him she did not have enough time.

The manager also said Tata told him she left grease on the stove, but it was on low, and the kids were at the house. He testified that she asked him if he thought that was alright, and that he told her it was "by no means" alright.

Prosecutors said that after leaving Target, Tata went to a Starbucks.

When she pulled up to the home, smoke was billowing from the windows and the children were trapped inside. Tata called 911 and managed to get two kids from the house.

But on Monday, firefighters testified that Tata made the scene even more confusing when she told emergency personnel that nine children were trapped in the building, when in fact there were only seven, reports KHOU.

All of the children had been pulled from the home in the first 10 minutes, and yet, firefighters continued searching for two more victims, needlessly endangering their lives, according to the prosecution.

"It's very stressful. You're going into an environment that's not conducive to life," Cpt. David Swanson told jurors.

Swanson and two other firefighters had to crawl on their hands and knees throughout the burning house. The heat at ceiling level was 475 degrees, and the black smoke was so thick, he said they had to search for the children by feeling their way around with their hands.

Elias Castillo, Elizabeth Kojah, Kendyll Stradford and Shomari Dickerson died in the blaze.

Prosecutors said in opening statements that Tata initially lied on the scene saying the fire started while she was in the bathroom, refusing to admit that she left the kids by themselves, the station reports. They also said she later pretended to not know what happened, and ate and watched television while being protected by her family members at the hospital.

While the grieving parents prepared to bury their children, Tata fled to Nigeria, but was captured a month later. She faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Family of victims in Houston day care fire testify at Jessica Tata murder trial

CBSnews.com

October 25, 2012

(CBS/AP) HOUSTON - The mothers of four children who died in a 2011 home day care fire in Houston recounted Wednesday the despair and grief they felt in the wake of the deadly blaze.

The parents testified in court during the first day of former day care owner Jessica Tata's felony murder trial. She is facing up to life in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors say the 24-year-old woman put the children in harm's way by leaving them alone and going shopping. While she was at a nearby Target, a fire broke out in the kitchen when oil in a frying pan on a stovetop burner ignited. Three children were also seriously injured in the February 2011 blaze. Tata's attorneys say she didn't intend to hurt the children.

"It's heartbreaking. She's a baby. She didn't know," said Kenya Stradford, whose 20-month-old daughter Kendyll died in the blaze.

The mothers told jurors they had trusted Tata, believing their children were safe with her.

Keshia Brown, whose 16-month-old son Elias Castillo died in the fire, testified that the day care's Christian learning environment had reassured her.

"She seemed like a nice person, knew what she was doing," said Brown, 21.

Tata was indicted on nine charges, including four counts of felony murder. She is being tried on one of the murder counts, for Elias' death.

Tata showed no emotion most of the day, but wiped away tears during testimony from Betty Ukera, whose 20-month-old daughter Elizabeth died in the fire. Ukera and Tata had met in church in 2007 and were friends.

Ukera cried when she told jurors about the last time she saw her daughter alive - when dropping her off at the day care.

"They walked away from my car. (Elizabeth) turned, waved at me. She would walk a little bit and wave at me," Ukera said.

Houston day care owner charged with murder betrayed parents' trust, prosecutor says

CBSnews.com

October 24, 2012

(CBS/AP) HOUSTON - A woman charged with murder after a fire at her Houston home day care killed four children betrayed the families who entrusted her with their kids' lives, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Jessica Tata, 24,  could get up to life in prison if convicted of felony murder for the death of one of the children, 16-month-old Elisa Castillo. Three children were also seriously injured in the 2011 fire, which began when oil in a frying pan on a stove-top burner ignited. Tata had left the children home alone.

"You are going to hear about trust and betrayal...and how the betrayal of the trust led to the deaths of four innocent, helpless children," prosecutor Steve Baldassano said in his opening statement. Tata's attorney, Mike DeGeurin, said his client had no intention of cause harm.

Tata also faces three counts of abandoning a child and two counts of reckless injury to a child.

Legal experts say that if prosecutors can prove the deaths occurred because she abandoned the children to go shopping at a nearby Target, they don't need to prove intent to harm to secure a murder conviction. Under Texas law, a person can be convicted of felony murder if he or she committed an underlying felony, such as abandoning a child, and that action led to the death.

Baldassano said Wednesday that prosecutors would present video of Tata at Target around the time of the blaze. An employee will testify about speaking with Tata and remembering that she mentioned leaving the burner turned on at home, Baldassano said.

Even after remembering the stove top, Tata stopped at a Starbucks Coffee inside the store, he said.

Tata's attorneys say murder charges are excessive and that when the fire broke out, she tried to save the children, who ranged in age from 16 months to 3 years old.

After the February 2011 fire, Tata fled to Nigeria but was captured by authorities after about a month. She was returned to the U.S. in March 2011 and has remained jailed since then. She was born in the U.S. but has Nigerian citizenship.

Tata's trial is expected to last a month. The jury was chosen on Tuesday.

Jessica Tata, Houston day care owner, returns from Nigeria to face charges in fatal fire

CBSnews.com

March 22, 2011

(CBS/KHOU) HOUSTON - Jessica Tata, the owner of a Houston home day care center where a fire killed four children, was taken to the Harris County Jail early Tuesday morning after returning on a flight from Nigeria to face charges, officials said.

Tata fled to Nigeria on Feb. 26, two days after a fire at the home day care killed four children, and injured three others. She initially told investigators she was in the bathroom when the fire started in the kitchen. However, investigators said Tata had left the children alone in the house while she went shopping at Target, CBS affiliate KHOU reports.

The fire was believed to have been started by a stovetop burner that had been left on, officials said.

Tata was charged with manslaughter, reckless injury to a child, abandoning a child and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, reports the station.

Tata was arrested Saturday in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, by Interpol and U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Agents. Tata departed Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday.

A private plane carrying Tata landed at Hooks Airport in Houston early Tuesday morning. Then U.S. Marshals  drove Tata to the Harris County Jail inmate processing center in downtown Houston, the station reports.

Two dozen law enforcement officers surrounded the jail as three vehicles pulled up carrying Tata and the deputies, according to the station.

The 22-year-old woman held her head down as she exited an SUV with officers at her side. She offered no comment as reporters asked her if she had anything to say to the victims' families, the station reports.

After Tata is processed she is expected to be placed in a single cell for her safety at the Baker Street Jail, according to KHOU. 

The U.S. Marshals Service led the search for Tata and placed her on the 15 most wanted fugitives list with a reward of up to $25,000.

"When Jessica Tata chose to flee from the consequences of her actions that left four innocent children dead, we made her capture a top priority" said Geoffrey Shank, U.S. Marshals Service Acting Assistant Director of Investigative Operations Division, to KHOU.

Jessica Tata flees to Nigeria after day care fire kills four, says Houston fire dept.

By Kevin Hayes - CBSnews.com

February 28, 2011

(CBS/KHOU) HOUSTON - Jessica Tata, the operator of a Houston home day care center who was charged Monday with reckless injury to a child, has fled to Nigeria, the Houston Fire Department confirmed.

Authorities said the department has asked the U.S. Marshal's Office to intervene to have Jessica Tata extradited back to Houston, reports CBS affiliate KHOU.

Tata, 22, was charged after the fire killed four children and injured three others at the  day care last week, the Harris County district attorney's office confirmed Sunday.

A warrant was issued for Tata's arrest Sunday and bond was set at $500,000. She apparently fled hours later.

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.

It's not clear if Tata will face additional charges.

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.

"I'm sorry, no there's no forgiveness for anyone who makes an income watching children and has an audacity to leave them for one second," Shomari's grandmother, Tracy Storms, told KHOU.

Storms believes Tata should face capital murder charges in the case.

Meanwhile, Tata's family spoke publicly for the first time on Monday.

"Since the accident, my family has never been the same, and I don't think we'll be the same because it's very horrible," said Josie Tata, Jessica's mother.

Josie said she hasn't talked to her daughter since Friday.

Her brother wouldn't comment on her whereabouts, but said he felt sympathy for the victims.

"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."

Investigators believe the fire started in a pot of oil left unattended on the kitchen stove.

Two neighbors 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 neighbors 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 weren't able to save Shomari, 20-month-old Elizabeth Kojah, 20-month-old Kendyll Stradford or 18-month-old Elias Castillo.

Shomari's 2-year-old sister, MaKayla, is one of two children still hospitalized at Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston. Both remain in critical but stable condition but are showing signs of improvement, a hospital spokeswoman JoAnn Zuniga said Sunday.