Tulsa Mom Charged With Leaving Kids Home Alone During Fire Returned To Jail

A Tulsa mother whose kids were home alone when a fire started was sent back to jail Wednesday morning. Krystal Penheiro is charged with child neglect.

Police said the mother of four returned home about three hours after a fire started on January 15, 2016.  Her children, ages 1 to 10, ran to a neighbor's for help. 

During a court appearance August 3, a judge said Penheiro was kicked out of a women's ministry program she'd been sent to, so the judge is putting her back in jail. The judge said Penheiro had contact with her ex and broke other rules of the Claremore ministry.

3/8/2016 Related Story: Tulsa Grandfather Pleads No Contest To Child Neglect Charge

Sentencing is set for September 27, 2016. The district attorney wanted prison time in the case saying Penheiro's home was "morbidly disgusting" and the kids barely escaped the house fire.

Her grandfather received a 4-year deferred sentence in the case.  

Firefighters believe a space heater caused the fire in the home.