Remaining felony cases dismissed against Tata - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Just a couple of months after a jury sentenced Jessica Tata in the death of a child related to a fire in her home-based child care center, the remaining eight cases against her have been dismissed.

Four children died in or as the result of the fire.

A jury sentenced Tata in November 2012 to 80 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. That jury found Tata guilty on Nov. 13 in the four felony counts of murder.

Firefighters pulled nine children from Tata's burning home on Crestpark Drive near Waypark Drive on Feb. 24, 2011.

Tata had operated Jackie's Day Care inside the Southwest Houston house since she registered the home and obtained a license for the facility in March 2010.

The following children died in the fire:

-- Shomari Dickerson, 3 years old

-- Elizabeth Kojah, 20 months old

-- Kendyll Stradford, 20 months old

-- Elias Castillo, 16 months old (who died two days after the fire)

Witnesses told Houston Police they saw Tata drive her vehicle onto the driveway of her home and walk into the house. She then ran out of the home, screaming about the fire.

On Feb. 28, 2011, FOX 26 News reported that the US Marshals Service was searching for Tata in Nigeria after she boarded an Atlanta flight for the African nation. They added her to their 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list on March 4, 2011.

Interpol and US Department of State Diplomatic Security agents captured Tata in Port Harcourt, Nigeria on March 19, 2011. She was booked into Harris County Jail three days later on four murder charges.

Jury selection for the murder trial began on Oct. 23, 2012. Opening statements began the next day. The jury began deliberating the case on Nov. 12 and the punishment phase began on Nov. 13.