Manager: Day care owner calm as she recalled stove

Friday October 26, 2012 2:45 PM

JUAN A. LOZANO

The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — A store manager says a woman accused of murder after four children died in a fire at her home day care in Houston wasn't frantic after remembering that she had left a stove top burner on at her house where the kids were alone.

Ray Menzies, a former Target store manager, was testifying Friday at the felony murder trial of Jessica Tata in the death of one of the children.

Investigators say a fire broke out in Tata's kitchen after she left the children alone to go shopping at Target in February 2011. Three other children were seriously injured.

Surveillance video shows that after speaking to Menzies, Tata went to a Starbucks inside the Target before returning home.

The 24-year-old faces up to life in prison if convicted.

©2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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