Robert Arnold, KPRC 2 News
A day-care owner was found guilty of murder Tuesday after a fatal fire that left four children dead.
Jessica Tata, 24, was charged with felony murder. Prosecutors said she left children home alone with a pan of grease heating on a stove while she went shopping. When she got home, the house was on fire.
Shomari Dickerson, 3, Elizabeth Kojah, 20 months, Kendyll Stradford, 20 months, and Elias Castillo, 16 months, died in the fire at Jackie’s Child Care on Crest Park at Waypark Drive shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2011. Three other children were injured. Tata stood trial for felony murder first for the youngest of the victims — Elias Castillo. Elias’ family cried during closing arguments and was emotional after the verdict was read.
It took the jurors about six hours over two days to reach their verdict.
“We’re thankful for today’s verdict and we’re happy,” said Nancy Villanuvea, Elias’ aunt.
(KPRC 2 News)
Tata’s murder conviction carries a possible maximum sentence of life in prison. Each juror was polled and each said they found that Tata used a deadly weapon, fire, in the crime. Tata did not show any emotion when the verdict was read.
“The jury has spoken. We accept their verdict and we move on with the second phase of the trial,” defense attorney Mike DeGeurin said.
The punishment phase began Tuesday at 1 p.m. and could last up to two weeks. Prosecutors said they had 25 witnesses to call. Four testified on Tuesday.
One of the first witnesses told jurors about Tata’s past fire history. The witness said Tata was arrested in 2002, when she was a freshman at Katy’s Taylor High School. She set two fires, one in the main building and another in the ninth-grade building, that caused about $2,000 worth of damage, the witness said.
DeGeurin said he has not decided if Tata will testify in the punishment phase.
Tata faces three additional counts of murder, three counts of abandoning a child and two counts of reckless injury to a child. Trials on those charges have not yet been scheduled.
(Read the full story at KPRC 2 News)
STORY ROUND-UP:
• Jurors Convict Jessica Tata of Murder in Day Care Fire (Houston Chronicle)
• Sentencing Now Focus in Texas Day Care Fire Case (Houston Chronicle)
• Jessica Tata Found Guilty in Fatal Day-Care Fire (KPRC 2 News)
• Tata Shows No Emotion After Jurors Find Her Guilty (KHOU 11 News)
• Day Care Owner Jessica Tata Found Guilty of Murder (KTRK 13 News)
• Jessica Tata Found Guilty of Murder (News 92 FM)
• Family Grateful for Guilty Verdict in Fatal Daycare Fire (KRIV 26 News)
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