Houston fire department investigators twice tried to talk to the 22-year-old Tata on February 25, the day after the blaze in which seven children were trapped inside the home day care. She initially refused and then, later that day, referred all questions to her lawyer -- the last known contact between her and law enforcement.
A U.S. Marshals task force later discovered that Tata flew to Georgia on Sunday, and officials have said they believe she may have gone on to Nigeria.
She was subsequently charged with six counts of reckless injury to a child, three counts of abandoning a child under 15 and four counts of manslaughter -- one apiece for the four children's deaths. Another three children were injured, but survived.
"What she told us was not truthful," said Houston Fire Chief Terry Garrison, adding that investigators did not learn that until later. Tata said she was in the center's bathroom but witnesses contradicted that account, according to an arrest affidavit.
At the time of the incident, Tata had driven off in her car leaving the seven children unsupervised in the home day-care facility with a pot containing oil on an electric stove, which was on. No other adults or day care employees were at the facility.
Tata was screaming soon after she pulled into the driveway and went to the front door. Her car was full of groceries.
The U.S. Marshals have now added Jessica Tata to its "15 Most Wanted" fugitive list, cautioning the public that she should be considered "armed and dangerous."
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