HOUSTON, March 23 (UPI) -- A Houston day-care center operator pleaded not guilty Wednesday to manslaughter and other counts for a fire that killed four children.
Jessica Tata faces manslaughter, child abandonment, reckless injury to a child, unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and other charges for the Feb. 24 fire at Jackie's Child Care.
Tata, 22, who has dual citizenship, fled to Nigeria two days after the tragedy but was arrested Saturday in Port Harcourt. She was brought back to Texas Tuesday, KHOU-TV reported.
Her brother in Houston said she turned herself in, but U.S. marshals disputed that, the report said.
Tata at first told police she was in the bathroom when the fire started, but investigators alleged she had left seven children unattended to go shopping. When she returned, the children were trapped inside, they alleged. A pot of oil left burning on a stove was blamed.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office said Tata will have extra security in jail and be isolated for her own protection.
Tiffany Dickerson, mother of fire victim Shomari Dickerson, filed suit against Tata, her parents (for allegedly helping her escape) and the state Wednesday. Her daughter, Makayla, survived but suffered severe burns.
