By Staff Reports
Dallas, TX – New Charge in Kidnap Torture Case
Parker County is adding a new charge to 58 year old Jeffrey Maxwell. He's the man arrested last week for kidnapping a 62 year old Parker County woman, holding her hostage, raping and torturing her for 13 days in his Corsicana home.
Monday, Parker County officials also charged him with arson. Investigators say he set fire to her home and car two days after he kidnapped the woman.
Maxwell appeared in court Monday morning in Weatherford, and was denied a public offender. The judge ruled he had the resources to hire his own attorney.
Day Care Operator Back In U.S. To Face Charges
The operator of a Houston day care where four children died in a fire is back in the U.S. The 22 year old Nigerian native fled after the February fire. She was taken into custody in Port Harcourt Nigeria over the weekend.
Officials say Jessica Tata is now in jail in Atlanta, and has waived extradition to Texas. She is accused of leaving the children alone while she went to a nearby store. A burner on the stove left on is blamed for the fire. Tata faces multiple charges, including manslaughter.
Car Seat Not Used In Crash
Dallas Police say they don't know why a driver made a left turn from a "center" lane of Harry Hines near downtown. Lt. Scott Bratcher says the driver turned into the path of an oncoming car in the far left lane of the one-way street. He says the back seat passengers in that vehicle were both ejected out the back window. The 28 year old adult suffered serious injuries. A three year old boy is in critical condition. CPR was performed at the scene.
Bratcher says there was a child's car seat in the back, but it was not attached to anything, and the child apparently was not belted in it. He says officers at any police station can help a family properly install a child's seat. Lt. Bratcher says the driver who turned left could face Lieutenant says the driver could face charges. The driver and front seat passenger are also hospitalized.