Jessica Tata is currently jailed on bonds for nine charges related to the February. 24 fire which also injured three children. The bonds, which together total $1.1 million, were set following her capture soon after she fled to Nigeria after the fire and became an intl fugitive for nearly one month.
In a motion filed after a court hearing,Tata’s lawyer, Mike DeGeurin, asked that her bond be reduced to $50,000.
“The deaths and injuries caused by the fire were accidental,” DeGeurin said in his motion.Authorities believe Tata, 23, left all seven children she was caring for alone while she went shopping, and the fire was ignited by a stove-top burner that was left on.
As fire department investigators worked to convince prosecutors to file charges, Jessica boarded a plane 2 days after the blaze and fled to Nigeria. Tata, who was born in the U.S. but has Nigerian citizenship, was returned to the U.S. on March 21.In his motion, DeGeurin said Tata doesn’t have the financial capability to pay her current bail. He also described her as a well brought up woman.”
“Her mom is a certified vocational nurse, her brother is a real estate agent, one sister is a doctor and the other a registered nurse. Her father, educated as (an) engineer, works in real estate in Nigeria,” DeGeurin said.The mother of one of the 4 children who died in the fire as well as the mom of one of the injured children have filed a lawsuit, accusingTata of negligence.www.mannamart.com
