Pre-trial motion hearing for day care owner Jessica Tata accused of murder

  Pooja LodhiaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- A year after a horrific fire at an in-home day care, a woman accused of leaving very young and helpless kids alone is about to go on trial for murder. But first, critical decisions will be made about what evidence can be used against her.

Four small children were killed in February of last year when a fire broke out at a home day care in west Houston. Jessica Tata, the woman who was supposed to be watching them now faces murder charges.

On Monday she was in court as attorneys argued about what evidence should and should not be allowed in her upcoming trial.

Jessica Tata sat in the courtroom staring straight ahead. The now 24-year-old is charged with four felony murders, the first of which goes to trial next week.

"She's diabetic and we're dealing with that. My son went to get her an order for insulin. But other than that, she's doing as best she can in the situation she's in," said defense attorney Mike DeGuerin.

Prosecutors allege that on February 24, 2011 Tata went shopping when she was supposed to be watching several children at her home day care. Police say she left a pot of oil burning on an electric stove and while she was gone, the home burst into flames, killing four young children and injuring three.

Police say Tata then fled to Nigeria to avoid charges. She was arrested and retuned to the U.S. about a month later.

"People have an emotional reaction without knowing all the facts. That's the hardest thing," DeGuerin said.

In Monday's pretrial hearing, attorneys argued over allowing into trial certain evidence and testimony that was collected before Tata was charged. One big issue is Tata's computer and diary. Her landlord gave them to investigators without a search warrant after the fire. Investigators testified they didn't even consider Tata as a suspect when they first questioned her.

"Both sides have a different spin on it. The state says we didn't know she was a suspect. We just needed to know what was going on. The defense saying you knew very well that she was a suspect and would be the target of your investigation," said KTRK Legal Analyst Joel Androphy.

The hearing will resume on Wednesday morning.

A jury panel will fill out questionnaires later this week. Testimony in Tata's trial is set to begin October 24. The trial is expected to last one month.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Auto shop thieves shot at by owner after robbery of business

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A fed-up auto shop owner took matters into his own hands after a pair of thieves preyed on his business.

Workers at this auto shop told us when they saw the thieves driving back through the area minutes after the crime they had to act fast. The workers tried chasing the crooks down and shots were fired.

It's back to business as usual at Riley's Performance and Auto in Grangerland. But workers here say Tuesday was anything but ordinary when the driver of a silver Pontiac Sunfire walked in.

"He never would look me in the eye. He had a cap on, and he was just always looking down," said Jared Riley.

He says the man approached him trying to sell some old tools outside. On surveillance video, you can see his female passenger petting the auto shop's dogs as a theft is going down inside.

"We found the money box over on the couch, open, sprawled out everywhere and I'm the only person who has the key to it," Jared said.

The workers say the man pried open the cash box while they were distracted taking some cash and two check books.

"It's getting worse and worse and worse. The business owners around here are getting hit left and right," said John Riley.

John was returning from an errand as the man and woman drove off. His staff alerted him about the robbery and they quickly called 911.

"While we were on the phone with the sheriff's department, the guy drove right past here, and looks straight at Tim and looked straight back," John said.

He says they watched the alleged crooks drive to a nearby gas station and hopped in their own cars to chase after them.

"He immediately did a 180 in the car and took off. I turned my car sideways trying to block him and told him to freeze and he decided he didn't want to freeze," said John.

The driver tried running him over as he sped off, John says, so he fired his pistol at the car. Now Montgomery County sheriff's detectives are investigating.

The workers here say detectives told them deputies were able to track down and seize the getaway car. The investigation into the alleged suspects and the shop owner's actions are still ongoing.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Blind horse, 25, still a champion for Conroe owner

  CONROE, TX -- When Thomas Boyd of Conroe began looking for a horse to add to his family's stable a few years ago, he thought he found the perfect one on Craig's List.

Boyd, operations manager for City Glass in Cleveland, and his wife, Amber, drove from their home in Conroe to Alvin to inspect the horse they'd seen online.

What they found was an older, neglected animal that didn't look worth the money it would take to feed him.

"Nothing like the picture," said Boyd. "You could see every bone in his body. He was starving."

The owner was asking $800 for the horse, but Boyd said he didn't think the sickly animal was worth more than $200 or $300, if that much.

"I messed with him a little out in the pasture, and we walked back up to the truck and got ready to leave," said Boyd. "He ran over there by us and started braying."

The owner was amazed. She told Boyd it was the most action she'd seen out of the horse in a long time.

Still hesitant, Boyd gave $300 for the animal, took him home and named him Scooby Doo.

"It was probably a year I spent with him, every day, brushing him down, giving him baths, feeding him," said Boyd. "But I got him back to health."

The lady who sold the horse said he hadn't had much riding time, but Boyd said when he rode Scooby for the first time, it was magic.

"It was like riding a dream," he said.

Boyd began roping with Scooby a short while later and discovered the old horse loved it.

Even after Scooby lost his sight, the two were able to work together through spur and touch signals.

After participating in a "playday" (a family-oriented horse riding competition) three years ago as a practice horse for their daughter, Boyd said Scooby picked up barrel and pole racing like a natural, in spite of his blindness.

"Low and behold -- I brought him out here, he wants to run," said Boyd.

Completely blind and 25 years old, Scooby still loves to compete. He and Boyd are currently tied for first place in the Tarkington Prairie Playday Spring Buckle Series.

Held over a period of four weeks, the series includes pole, barrel and straight barrel races, as well as a "mystery" event.

TPPS coordinator Patty Vandver, who began TPPS with her husband, Bubba, said Scooby and Boyd are an inspiration to everyone.

"They are really something special," she said with a smile.

Boyd said he's tried to retire the horse, but every time the family gets ready to leave for a competition, Scooby runs to the fence,

"He's a warrior," Boyd chuckled. "He just doesn't want to stop."

Boyd said, if nothing else, he wants people to learn from his experience with Scooby.

"A lot of people give up on horses, just because of an injury or old age or no matter what it might be," he explained. "But an animal's not done `til they're done. You might not win all the races, but you need to let an animal do what they've got to do."

You can read more about this story in the Conroe Courier, a Houston Community Newspaper partner.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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New Astros owner Jim Crane considering name, uniform changes

  HOUSTON -- New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is considering changing the name of the franchise as well as its uniforms.

New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is considering changing the name of the franchise as well as its uniforms.

Crane said Monday the team will conduct a study to decide whether or not to switch the name.

"We're going to study the information both from the fans and from all sorts of marketing people," Crane said. "I'm not saying we're going to change. We haven't made the decision yet whether we're going to change."

The team was established in 1962 as the Colt .45s and has been called the Astros since 1965 when it was changed to coincide with the move to the Astrodome.

Crane said switching uniforms is something they are "highly considering." Any changes wouldn't happen until 2013 when Houston makes the move from the National League to the American League.

"We had the Colt .45s and everybody liked that one," Crane said. "So you can imagine how upset they were when we switched that. What you get when you look at the fan base is the older we get and I'm old, you don't like to change. But the younger fans are very receptive to change and the older ones aren't, so that's what we saw with the American League."

Crane's comments came at an event to announce several fan initiatives. The biggest move is a 5 percent rebate on full-season and 27-game season ticket accounts that are renewed by Jan. 31. The cheapest at the park will be cut from $7 to $5. Children's tickets in the lowest priced sections will remain $1.

They also have a new $35 ticket located on the club level that includes a $15 credit for food, beverages and retail items. These tickets cost $46 last season and did not include any food or retail credit.

The Astros will also allow fans to bring water and a small amount of food inside the stadium.

Crane and his staff met with many fans before deciding on these initiatives. He has been looking into ways to improve the team, which finished a franchise-worst 56-106 last season, and the fan experience since the sale from Drayton McLane was completed in late November.

"We felt that with the new ownership and the way the team performed in the last couple of years that we needed to step forward and try to get the interest back with the fans," he said.

"We're making some very positive moves to put a better product on the field, and we wanted to get people in the ballpark to experience that."

The Astros name is a nod to Houston's role in the space program as the site of NASA's Mission Control. Aerospace is a major industry in the metropolitan area, but now that the space shuttle program has ended, the city may be less likely to base its identity on the space program.

Still, Crane wanted to make clear that no decisions have been made yet.

"We haven't said we're going to do that, so don't jump to any conclusions," he said of a possible name change. "Sometimes change is good."

He said they haven't hired a marketing firm yet, but they are considering doing that soon. There isn't a lot of to make a decision. Crane said they must inform the league by the beginning of the season if they are going to make a change. They wouldn't be allowed to announce the new name or release the logos until the season is over.

"Baseball has to approve all of those logos and all of those changes and there is a lot of expense to it. We've got signs here and if we do change it, it's going to be expensive," Crane said.

The Astros have had several uniform styles in their history, including the shooting star jerseys and the now infamous rainbow ones. They've had their current uniforms, which include road grays and primarily home reds since 2000. They also have alternate home white and white with black pinstriped jerseys.

Crane said some past uniforms could be incorporated into a new design.

"We've been studying the uniforms and we think there are some good ideas with the past," he said. "We have had baseball's people in to talk to them about what needs to be done. We're trying to follow the proper protocol. They have very tight rules. We're going to get some fan input together and put a study group together."

What do you think? Should the Astros consider a name and/or uniform change? Talk about it on our Facebook page.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more MLB »

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Owner of Texas City animal shelter Whiskerville facing animal cruelty charges

LA MARQUE, TX (KTRK) -- Two people, whose jobs are to care for animals at a local shelter, are charged with animal cruelty.

The owner and employee from the Texas City facility are charged with four counts each of animal cruelty. The woman who turned them in says it appeared no one had checked on the cats for days.

On a website, there are pages of furry faces and names to go with them. Anson, Jared, Erin are waiting to be adopted at Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary in Texas City.

"I was heartbroken because I never dreamed it was that bad," said the woman who called authorities.

She asked not to be identified but says it appeared the cats were also waiting to be cared for.

"I'll be honest with you, I didn't know there were dead cats when I called, I just said there is something terribly wrong," she said.

The woman who turned the owner in only saw animals inside for days and noticed cats were not moving in a bassinet.

"All the cats were just in a big, giant circle in a pile. I tapped on the window and only two came over, so I came in and I called immediately and said there is something terribly, terribly wrong," she said.

Earlier this month, animal control found more than a dozen dead cats and hundreds in distress.

"I knew nobody had been coming, but I didn't realize they had been suffering, that's what is so sad," the woman said.

The owner of the no-kill shelter. Wydell Dixon doesn't dispute the conditions the cats were found in. What her attorneys argued in court, though, was it was one of her employees who let the shelter fall apart while she was gone for a month. Prosecutors fault both of them, charging the 56-year-old founder and her 48-year-old employee Kimberly Paskert with four counts each of felony cruelty to animals. Both women turned themselves in Wednesday night.

Those who say they witnessed the conditions are actually glad to see this shelter sitting empty now.

"I'm just thankful that everybody's eyes are opened and I pray to God that she is not allowed to do that again," the woman said.

The surviving cats are being nursed back to health under the care of the state for now. If convicted, the two could spend up to two years behind bars on each count.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Texas City shelter owner accused of neglect loses custody of cats

LA MARQUE, TX (KTRK) -- After dozens of cats were seized from the Whiskerville Animal Shelter in Galveston County, a judge decided on Tuesday what to do with all the animals.

The hearing lasted several hours but after emotional testimony, the judge ruled the shelter's owner, Wydell Dixon, should not get her cats back.

Dixon doesn't dispute the fact that her Whiskerville cat shelter was found in deplorable conditions.

"This was your facility, wasn't it?" the prosecutor asked Dixon.

"Yes it was," she replied.

"This is was your passion?"

"Yes and it still is."

"And these were your babies?"

"Yes, they were."

But she and her attorney argue it was one of Dixon's employees who let the shelter fall apart while she was away for a month. Prosecutors, though, feel differently. Galveston County Animal Control officers testified that the shelter was in horrendous shape.

"Lots and lots of cats that were skins and bones, matted. The floors, walls, tables, doorknobs -- everything -- was covered in feces, urine," animal control officer Amy Snider said.

The county wanted to take away the cats permanently, and Tuesday's court hearing brought out dozens of cat lovers who felt the same way, including Dixon's own estranged daughter, Tammy Vosburg.

"I personally know several people who are waiting to adopt them, they're waiting for them to be released," Vosburg said.

Those cats are being cared for at several area animal shelters. Tuesday's ruling clears the way for the cats to eventually get adopted.

Authorities says the investigation into the shelter, its owners and workers isn't owner yet.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Flooded animal shelter's owner asking for help

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An animal shelter in Waller County is facing a dire situation, thanks to the flooding weather.

About 56 dogs and five horses on a 20 acre "no kill" shelter in Waller County were in danger, according to their owner. The low-lying property is flooded and she's asking any kennels or people who can transport and care for the animals to please help.

Dogtown Ranch and Sanctuary rehabs unwanted dogs, which would be euthanized elsewhere, and many are pit bulls. Foster homes are needed.

Help has arrived for some of the animals. The Washington Animal Clinic took 10 dogs. Two horses went to the Brazos Valley Equine Hospital.

The other horses are OK for now, but another six dogs need to be taken to a clinic. Hay is needed for the shelter as well.

No Paws Left Behind has donated $3,000 to the sanctuary.

The shelter's address is 45912 Qualls Road, Hempstead 77448. If you would like to help, please call 979-826-2480.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Found Christmas gifts finally returned to owner

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The mystery of the green canvas bag is solved, and the sack filled with hundreds of dollars in gifts and cash is finally back with the rightful owner.

James Taylor has been looking forward to this day for almost two weeks.

"Just been sitting in my house sitting in the spare bedroom," Taylor said.

Ever since he told us about finding the green canvas bag on December 22.

"It was a little wet when I first picked it up," Taylor told us at the time.

Full of hundreds of dollars of Christmas gifts, cards and cash along the Northwest Freeway.

"My end goal would be the people get their gifts by Christmas," Taylor said back then.

Well, it took a little longer.

"Can't wait to see the look on her face," Taylor said.

But today, Taylor finally made the connection.

"You are just something else. That is so great that you found these and were willing to give them back," said Shirley Baltz.

Baltz, 78, is the rightful owner of the lost bag of gifts. She didn't know they were missing until Christmas Eve and thought she had just made an honest mistake

"I said, Oh did I leave those at home?" Baltz told us.

Turns out the mistake was one of her relative's, who accidentally left the bag unsecured on the back of his trailer and it fell off on their way out of town.

"I'm so glad James was coming along," Baltz said.

Taylor posted a sign and a similar one on Craigslist.org and also called us.

"I would hope someone would do the same," Taylor said.

Days passed with no word. He did more investigating and he finally found Mrs. Baltz's name and address. The mystery was solved the day after Christmas.

"She called and said Channel 13 is looking for you," said Taylor.

"Yep, here they all are. Thank you so much," Baltz said to Taylor.

It would have been hard for Baltz to replace the gifts.

"He could have had a good ol' time," said Baltz.

So now, Christmas just comes later for her family. And for Taylor, 2012 gets off to the right start.

Baltz insisted Taylor accept a gift card as a thank you. He finally did even though all he wanted to do was the right thing.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Man finds owner of lost bag of gifts

James Taylor found a canvas bag along the Northwest Freeway near the outlet mall last week, and now he's reportedly found the bag's owner.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We have an update on a story about the Deer Park man who found a bag full of presents. We have found the owner!

One afternoon last week, James Taylor found a canvas bag along the Northwest Freeway, near the outlet mall. The bag was full of gifts, cards and cash.

Taylor was determined to find the bag's owner -- and he did! The bag belongs to a woman in her 80's. She tells us she thought the bag was in her trunk when she lost it. She doesn't know exactly how it ended up on the side of the road.

The woman says she's thrilled Taylor found it. The two of them plan to get together next week so he can return everthing to her.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Man trying to find owner of lost bag of gifts

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man is trying to find the owner of a bag he found that contains hundreds of dollars worth of Christmas gifts.

Often newscasts begin with the news of something stolen, but on Thursday night, we started Eyewitness News at 10pm with a story about something found and the urgent need to find its owner.

If the bag had fallen into the wrong hands, we wouldn't even be talking about it, but James Taylor says he tries to live by the golden rule, especially at Christmas. That's why he's going above and beyond to try and reunite about $700 worth of Christmas gifts with the person to whom it belongs.

You don't have to look beyond Taylor's front yard, which is full of handmade and humorous decorations, to know he is filled with Christmas spirit.

"My favorite time of the year," he said.

So it's that spirit that has compelled him to launch a search for the owner of the bag -- a green canvas tote full of Christmas gifts, cards and a lot of cash.

"It was a little wet when I first picked it up," Taylor said. "I'm like wait a minute, this stuff hasn't even been opened yet."

Taylor was driving along the outbound feeder road of the Northwest Freeway near the outlet mall when he spotted what he thought was a purse. His wife had hers stolen before so he stopped, hoping he could save someone the headache of closing credit card accounts and getting a new driver's license. He quickly realized it might be someone's entire Christmas.

"I'd feel terrible," he said.

So he started his search.

"I would hope someone would do the same," Taylor said.

Taylor has posted a sign at the nearest intersection and a similar one on Craigslist. Any callers will have to pass a stringent test to make sure the spirit of Christmas spirit isn't tainted.

"I'll ask specific questions about the names on cards," he said. "My end goal is that the people get their gifts by Christmas. That would make me feel great and I'm sure it would make the person who lost the bag feel better about the situation."

If you think the you know the owner of the bag, contact ABC13 and we'll connect you with Taylor.

Taylor says he'll keep the bag for about a year and if no one claims it during that time, he'll donate it to charity.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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New car owner shot during attempted carjacking

Police are trying to track down the suspects who shot a man in his own driveway while trying to steal one of his brand new cars

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Harris County deputy constables want to find the suspects who shot a man in his own driveway.

It happened around 11:15pm Saturday at the victim's home on Roydencrest, near Dawn Lilly in northwest Harris County.

Deputies say a family was returning home from a car dealership where they had just bought two new cars. The victim was in one car and his wife and child were in another car.

As soon as the man's family went inside the house, the suspects ambushed him and tried to steal one of his brand new vehicles. They shot him once in the chest.

Constables believe the suspects followed the family home from the dealership.

The man is expected to survive. The shooters remain on the loose.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Day care owner indicted on four murder charges for fatal fire

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Harris County grand jury has indicted the day care owner accused in a fatal fire on four felony murder charges, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Jessica Tata is charged with murder in connection to the February deaths of four children in a fire at her in-home day care. Three other children were also injured. Tata fled to Nigeria in the days following the blaze and was eventually captured and returned to Houston. "The grand jurors spent a great deal of time carefully evaluating the testimony and the evidence in these cases. I appreciate their thoroughness and hard work," Harris County Assistant District Attorney Carl Hobbs said in a prepared statement. Tata, 22, pleaded not guilty to the initial charges back in March. Last Friday, a judge ruled that Tata's $1.1 million bond would stand after denying bond reduction at a hearing. Tata will remain in jail on nine charges related to the Feb. 24 fire that also injured three children. Authorities believe the 23-year-old left all seven children in her care alone while she went shopping, and the fire was ignited by a pot of oil left on a lit stove-top burner. Eighteen-month-old Elias Castillo, 20-month-old Kendyll Stradford, 3-year-old Shomari Dickerson and 19-month-old Elizabeth Kajoh all perished in the fire. The range of punishment for the new indictments is from five years to life in prison if convicted. Tata is expected to appear in court for her arraignment on July 8. Tata is also facing two civil lawsuits from the parents of the victims. Jessica Tata's attorney did not return our phone calls. City passes ordinance to protect children Not only was Jessica Tata indicted Wednesday in the deaths of four children, but the city of Houston plans to do more to protect other children who go to home day cares. Tata's indictment Wednesday on four counts of felony murder came a little more than three months after four toddlers under her care died in that horrible fire at her in-home day care. "It won't bring the children back. People are responsible for their actions," said Houston City Council Member Sue Lovell. She says the indictments are important, but what's more important is what the city can do to help prevent such tragedies in the future. On Wednesday, City Council passed an ordinance requiring home daycares to pay a $100 inspection fee and get inspected by the Houston Fire Department every year. "In talking to our fire chief, he believes this is an appropriate role for our fire department," said Mayor Annise Parker. Tata's day care, like all home day cares, was already inspected by the state. But the new city ordinance means within city limits, there will be another set of eyes on home day cares. "If we can do anything to make children safer, then that's what we can do in City Council and I believe that's what we're doing," said Lovell. The new ordinance will require the fire department to look for fire code violations such as smoke detectors and clearly marked exits. No one knows if this would have prevented the February fire at Tata's day care, but the city hopes no other tragedies occur down the road. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Bond reduction denied for day care owner

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Day care owner Jessica Tata is charged with murder for the February deaths of four children in a fire at her home. New information came out Friday during a bond hearing and it's been very difficult at times for those who are in the courtroom.

Tata was trying to get her $1.1 million bond reduced so she can get out of jail. During the hearing, Tata's attorney argued the bonds are illegally excessive and should be reduced to $50,000. However, a judge ruled late Friday afternoon that Tata's bond would not be reduced. Included in Friday's court hearing were witnesses and evidence, but the most chilling moment was the 911 call Tata made from the burning home day care that day in February, in which you could hear children screaming. Tata could be heard saying, "They're dying! I can't see anything. I can't see them. Oh my gosh. Come here! I can't see them. They're all babies. "Please hurry. They're everywhere. I'm coming. Come here. Please help me...My babies are here. I'm here. Oh my gosh, they're burning! The kids are all dying. "What do I do? They're babies! Won't they die from the smoke?" Tata screams.

Then the call ends.

Afterwards, the children's families left the courtroom. The mother of victim Elias Castillo was inconsolable. "They want her to receive her punishment, but they feel in order for them to move forward that they have to forgive her. But they still want justice," said a family's attorney. After a day of testimony, the decision came down to three words: Bond reduction denied. "I'm happy. She ain't going nowhere. Everything is in God's hands and God has everything covered," said Keshia Brown, mother of one of the victims. Tata will remain in jail on nine charges related to the Feb. 24 fire that also injured three children. Authorities believe the 23-year-old left all seven children in her care alone while she went shopping, and the fire was ignited by a stove-top burner that was left on. Details emerge of Tata's flight to Nigeria For every life lost and every child injured, there was a family member in court. And there was Tata, wearing handcuffs and her hair cropped short. Friday's bond reduction hearing revealed evidence that will be part of the trial, starting with her flight to Nigeria. An officer with the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force testified, saying that Tata took a Delta flight from Dallas to Lagos, Nigeria, on February 26 with a possible return flight on March 18. Tata claims she turned herself in, but that officer testified she was tracked to her father's compound, that he told Interpol where to find her, and she was taken into custody. Flight risk is why the state opposes her release on bond, as do the families of the four children who died in the fire in February. "They believe in the system. They want to see this system have a chance, to have an opportunity to do what we all feel should be done and what it will do eventually," said one of the victim's attorneys. The prosecution painted Tata as deceptive from the start, beginning at the hospital the night of the fire. On the stand Friday, HFD fire investigator Dorian Green testified. Green: She stated she was in shock and didn't know why she was in the hospital.
Prosecutor: Was there any evidence she was in shock?
Green: Personally, no.
Green recorded an initial interview with Tata at the hospital. Green: You're in shock from what?
Tata: I don't know.
Green: Do you know about an incident at a Houston day care?
Tata: Someone said something about it, but I don't know anything. They won't tell me why I'm here (at hospital).
The officer said he also interviewed Tata's mother and sister, who both said they didn't know where Tata was, but they assumed she was in Nigeria based on news reports. He testified that Tata's brother, Ronald, kept avoiding interviews, saying he was too busy with work. The officer said Tata has lots of family in Nigeria, possibly including a family member on the Nigerian Supreme Court. He said that six weeks into the search, Interpol agents found an airline ticket with Jessica's name on it in her father's "compound." Her father confessed, saying Tata was staying with a friend. Nigerian officials, the officer testified, surrounded the friend's home and eventually detained Tata. Jessica Tata's brother, Ronald, also testified Friday afternoon. Despite previous denials, Ronald Tata admitted he helped his sister go to Nigeria. He said he drove her to Dallas and gave her $800. He said they decided Nigeria was the safest place for her to be at that time. In addition, Ronald Tata said he never spoke to Jessica while in Nigeria. He communicated only with their father, whom he knew to be in communication with her. Ronald Tata says he told his father that Jessica faced multiple felony charges two to three days after she was charged. However, she wasn't taken into custody in Nigeria for another three weeks. Also testifying on Friday was a member of the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office who discussed a pair of fires that Tata was later found to have set at her school in Katy. Apparently, Tata went into two different bathrooms and set the fires on the same day. The attorney for Tata fought to keep that out of testimony, but he lost that argument. Victims' families file lawsuits Jessica Tata is facing two civil lawsuits from the parents of the victims. Shomari Dickerson died in the fire and his sister Makayla was severely burned. Their mother is suing Tata and the state of Texas for negligence. Another parent, whose son was burned, has also filed a lawsuit. She's going after Tata, her parents and her brother, claiming they all knew Tata wasn't fit to run the day care out of her home. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Group wants close eye kept on incoming Astros owner

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- During Monday afternoon's announcement about the sale of the Astros, Jim Crane, who led a group that purchased the team, addressed questions about a discrimination lawsuit filed against his company, which was settled for $9 million dollars.

Crane could be the newest majority owners of the Houston Astros after reaching a deal with current owner Drayton McLane.

"I believe in running a first class franchise," said Crane during Monday's press conference.

But over the last decade and a half, he was found to be running a less that first class global freight operation. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found the multimillionaire complicit in discrimination within his then-company, Eagle Global Logistics. A two-year investigation began in 1997. The EEOC found a number violations against Crane's company, which was fined for:

Failing or refusing to promote African-Americans. Demoting females from managerial positions Maintaining a hostile work environment against African-Americans, Hispanics and females with respect to terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Failing to adequately investigate incidents of sexual and gender harassment.The EEOC also says his company destroyed evidence the company was instructed to maintain as part of the two-year investigation. His company at the time denied any wrongdoing.

"If you've done your homework on that, there really wasn't a problem there," Crane told us. "We can address that later. But I don't think it's going to be a problem whatsoever."

It was enough of a problem for Crane's company to reach a $9 million settlement with the EEOC. And now it's something other Major League team owners will have to consider when they vote to approve or block Crane's offer for the Astros.

"You have issues at times," said McLane. "He said that was a learning experience for him and he has certainly moved well past that and has never had another problem."

If the deal does go through, the NAACP is asking for someone to keep watch.

"We are deeply concerned that someone, that has a broad reach throughout the community and across the country regarding employment ... has such a dismal record in the area of discrimination. As such this is someone that should be monitored very closely in the area of employment discrimination as it relates to minorities and woman," the group said in a statement."

Eight-point-five million dollars of that $9 settlement went to back pay and damages to minorities who worked at Eagle from 1995 to 2000. The remaining $500,000 was to implement a leadership development program to benefit minorities and women for those roles within eagle global logistics.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Sports »

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Storage owner reunites cremated remains with family

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A mystery that began with in a U-Haul storage unit has been solved.

It is a modern storage warehouse in north Harris County -- temporary housing for the overflow from homes. But when a renter emptied her storage unit two months ago, she left something -- or someone -- behind. "She was like in the middle with trash and debris around," storage manager Jesus Muniz said. Muniz retrieved kept it in a plastic bag, feeling it's personal to someone. "Decided to keep her, bring her in, and started trying to locate her family members or relatives," he said. Since the day he found the cremated remains, Muniz tried to track down the woman who left Gloria Jean Jones behind, but her numbers were disconnected. He even went to the apartment where the last renter had lived but nothing. He had a name, birth and death date and a birth certificate of a relative of Gloria Jones also were left in the unit. But we ran a Public Data check and made a phone call to a Mrs. Lizzie Jones. "Would they give 'em to her mama?"Jones asked us during a phone conversation. "Yes, they'd give them to her mama," we replied. It was the break for which Muniz had hoped. So he brought what he had been keeping to his car, and a long drive later in southeast Houston, an 80-year-old mother was reunited with her daughter. The pictures matched. Jones says she had always asked her granddaughter about Gloria Jeans' ashes but never knew where they'd been taken. Now she does. "My Jean, oh Lord, thank you Jesus. Thank you mister," Jones said. Gloria Jean Jones is now home, thanks to a stranger who solved a mystery and brought peace to a mother. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Mixed emotions after day care owner shows remorse

 HOUSTON (KTRK) -- In an Eyewitness News exclusive jailhouse interview, the day care operator accused in the tragic deaths of four children spoke out for the first time.

We went around the world searching for Jessica Tata until she finally came out of hiding in Nigeria. Now we're hearing for the first time from her, from inside the Harris County Jail. In our exclusive interview, Tata said she felt remorseful. But on Thursday, our legal analyst and some neighbors wonder where that remorse comes from. Teddy bears still line the outside of the house where Tata once ran a home day care. It's a makeshift memorial to the four children who died and a neighborhood that will never been the same. "We have to look at it every day, which is unfortunate. The memorial is still there," said neighbor Jeff DeShano. He is reminded of the tragedy that changed so many lives. We showed DeShano our exclusive jailhouse interview with Tata where she said, "Sorry is not enough. You can only say sorry so many times." DeShano has some sympathy. "She didn't mean it for this to happen, I'm sure," he said. Our KTRK legal consultant sees it as a ploy. "This is actually a public relations stunt on her part. She's trying to endure herself to potential jurors. She's not talking about the facts of the case," said Joel Androphy. Indeed, Tata did not address the details on the case, instead saying, "I'm doing well. I pray a lot." Androphy says with Tata facing multiple charges and the possibility of spending the rest of her life behind bars, it's hard to discern the true motive behind her statements. "She's trying to say, 'I'm not a monster. I made a terrible mistake. I can't explain the mistake I made, but I am asking for your forgiveness,'" Androphy said. Because of what happened, both the state and the city of Houston are trying to make it tougher to get an at-home day care operating license. On our Facebook page, we asked you what would you ask Jessica Tata if you had the chance? You can join the conversation anytime on the ABC13 KTRK Eyewitness News Facebook page. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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