HOUSTON — Authorities in Houston have taken a woman into custody after witnesses reported she set her car on fire as she sat inside with her three children.

  • 31-year-old set her car on fire in a car wash parking lot in Houston
  • 3 daughters were inside the car 
  • Witnesses heard the mother say in Spanish 'Let's go to heaven'  and 'we're going to see Jesus'  

Houston police spokeswoman Jodi Silva says the woman, later identified as Ana Segovia, 31, was at a car wash Sunday evening when she began repeatedly revving the engine to the point that it caught fire.

Witnesses intervened and rescued the woman’s three daughters, ages 9, 11 and 13. Witnesses told investigators that at one point she said, “We’re going to see Jesus.”

She left on foot with the children but was later detained by a Harris County deputy constable.

Silva says she’ll be charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a family member. A mental health evaluation is pending.

The children are with family members.