Mum arrested for making no effort to save her 6 year old screaming daughter from house fire

A mother accused of making no effort to rescue her screaming six-year-old daughter from a house fire as she fled the blaze to save herself wept in court on Sunday.

Erica Rosello, 32, allegedly escaped the property in Miami on Thursday night as the blaze consumed her apartment - but left her daughter behind.

The fire is said to have taken hold of the home after Rosello poured water on an oil fire in the kitchen.

She became separated from her daughter and ran out of the apartment before allegedly flagging down a car and asking the driver to take her to a friend's house, WSVN reported.

Firefighters were called to the apartment and were able to break through a window to rescue the girl, who was unconscious from smoke inhalation.

She was taken to Nicklaus Children's Hospital but has since been released and is expected to make a full recovery.

Meanwhile Rosello, who by this time was said to be at her friend's house, called her mother, Angelica Tabio. 

Ms Tabio said:

'When her friend calmed her down - that friend has my phone number - he called me, and the first thing she told me was, '"Mom, she is dead."'

The grandmother said she replied:

'"What do you mean she is dead? No, she is here in the hospital."'

 

Rosello later arrived at the hospital, where she was arrested.

 

A man who features prominently on Rosello's Facebook page and appears to be her boyfriend is a firefighter. The identity of the girl's father is not known.

Rosello is charged with child neglect and is not allowed to contact her daughter, who is now in the custody of Ms Tabio, her Grand mother.

Rosello wept in court on Sunday as she was told she could not see her daughter. She posted a $7,500 bond and is being held under house arrest.

 

Ms Tabio told the news station that Rosello loves her daughter but suffered from postpartum depression. She also thanked firefighters for saving her granddaughter's life. 

 

Firefighters involved in the rescue of the six-year-old told CBS Miami about the moment they smashed a window and carried her to safety.

 

Miami-Dade firefighter David Arrencibia said he could hear the girl crying when he arrived at the home.

'The bed was literally two feet from the window and I happened to see the little girl,' he said.

Realizing there was no time to wait for a ladder, he smashed a window and got his partner to lift him inside.

'I could tell she was unconscious. I picked her up, turned around and took her out the window,' he said. 

'I feel accomplished. I’m grateful that the situation was such that we were able to get her out as quickly as we did. Had we taken another three, four minutes the outcome would have been different.'