Nollywood Media | 21 March 2011 07:53 CET

Jessica Tata Turns Herself In

By Laura Phillips/Houston 11 News

Jessica Tata, the woman accused of fleeing the states after a fire at her Houston day care center killed four children, has allegedly turned herself in to authorities in Nigeria.

Jessica's brother, Ron Tata, said that relatives in Nigeria claims Jessica went to the U.S. consulate early Saturday. U.S. officials say they still don't have her in custody.

“She just felt really, really, really bad about the whole situation, especially for the families. It would be the right thing to do,” Ron said.

Her mother, Josephine Tata, said Jessica would not fight extradition and may return to Houston as early as this weekend.

U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Jeff Carter said the 22-year-old woman wasn't in the agency's custody, and Harris County district attorney spokeswoman Donna Hawkins said she had received no information that Jessica Tata was being held.

It is believed that Tata fled to Nigeria two days after the fire erupted in her home day care center on Feb. 24. Three children were injured in addition to the four casualties.

Tata has been charged with manslaughter, injury to a child and child abandonment. She is accused of leaving the children alone while she shopped at a nearby store. Authorities believe the fire was ignited by a stove top burner that had been left on.

Family members of the child victims said that they were relieved to hear Tata had turned herself in.

“I cried, but they tears were of joy,” said Keisha Brown, whose 16-month old son Elias died in the fire. “All I wanted was justice and closure.”

Elias' grandmother Jodie Brown said she was excited that Tata had “taken the responsibility she needed to take.”

The U.S. Marshals Service placed Tata on its list of the 15 most wanted fugitives and offered a reward of up to $25,000. Interpol, the international police agency, alerted its member countries, including Nigeria, that she was being sought by the U.S.

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