New information has been released on the case of a young girl who was left alone, as her home went up in flames. Her mother remains behind bars.
"It's really difficult for us but with God's faith and the firefighters, I want to thank the firefighters," said Angie Tabio, the child's grandmother.
An emotional grandmother in Children's Court Tuesday, asking for custody of her six-year old granddaughter, who almost died in the fire.
"A home study has been filed for the maternal grandmother and we are seeking to place the child there," the court clerk said during the hearing.
Detectives said the child's mother, Erica Rosello, 32, was outside the hallway when a fire engulfed her apartment. Her daughter was inside yelling for help but according to witnesses, Rosello didn't make any attempts to rescue her.
"She panicked. She didn't take a normal reaction. She panicked and she just took off, thinking that her daughter was dead," Tabio said.
Firefighters pulled the child to safety and she was treated for smoke inhalation at the hospital. Officers arrested Rosello and charged her with child neglect with great bodily harm. But when mother and daughter saw each other, it was a relief for both.
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"They just grabbed each other and they couldn't let each other go and my daughter is very devastated," Tabio explained.
According to Tabio, Rosello has been asking for help with her depression for years. The judge ordered court-appointed counseling for the child and the entire family.
For now, Rosello will stay in jail while her daughter will be living with her grandmother until her case reaches an outcome. She'll be back in court in March for her arraignment.
