HOUSTON – A mother accused of setting a car on fire with her three daughters inside was taken into custody Sunday night, Houston police said.
The incident was reported at 8:14 p.m. in the 4300 block of West Orem Drive.
Police said a witness saw the mother, identified as 31-year-old Ana Segovia, rev the engine of her car until it caught fire. Bystanders told police they saw the children -- ages 9, 11, 13 -- in the vehicle while Segovia was saying in Spanish, "Let's go to heaven."
Police said witnesses intervened and Segovia fled on foot with the children.
Precinct 7 officers found Segovia trying to drag her 9-year-old toward a bayou, investigators said. She tried to run away, but tripped and officers arrested her after a short struggle, police said.
The other two children were not with her, police said. The 9-year-old was not injured, according to police.
Segovia is facing three counts of aggravated assault of a family member.