Woman charged in boy's death held in Dakota County Jail

DAKOTA CITY -- A former South Sioux City woman arrested in Pennsylvania for the 2006 death of her foster child is back in Nebraska to face a manslaughter charge.

Dakota County Jail Administrator Terry Kern said Wednesday that 34-year-old Tisha Vega arrived at the jail late Tuesday night.

Vega, who was arrested last month in Oaks, Pa., on a manslaughter warrant for the Sept. 24, 2006, death of 20-month-old Nathaniel Saunsoci-Mitchell, waived extradition from Montgomery County, Pa., and voluntarily returned to Nebraska.

She was arrested after a Sioux City Journal investigation in late March revealed she was living in Pennsylvania. The Journal shared her address with Dakota County authorities

Nathaniel suffered a broken leg and broken clavicle and a dog bite on his face while in Vega's home and died of a nonaccidental head injury.

The Omaha Tribe had placed Nathaniel, whose parents are tribal members, in Vega's home. He was one of 10 children in the household, five of whom were foster children.