4 children hid in closet as mom killed her uncle, police say

HOUSTON -- A mother facing murder charges in the death of her uncle has run into trouble with the law before.

Nicole Daniels, 29, was taken to jail after a long morning at the Harris County Sheriff's Office detectives bureau.

Detectives say the woman offered conflicting versions of what happened inside the home on Cranberry Trail, just off the Hardy Toll Road.

According to records, Daniels was accused over the years of reckless bodily injury to a child and theft. The last time she stood for a mugshot was back in 2013, with the earliest dating back to 2005.

MUGSHOTS: Nicole Daniels had history of accusations against her

Deputies said it was Daniels who dialed 911 early Sunday morning, reporting her 67-year-old uncle Robert Mitchell was in need of medical attention.

She allegedly claimed he was intoxicated and was pushing around her children, whose ages range from 1 to 9 years old.

In retaliation, the niece alleges she pushed her uncle back and he fell to the floor.

Harris County Pct. 4 deputies rushed to the home, and found the man covered in blood. He was taken to the Houston Northwest Medical Center, but died before he could get there.

Deputies say the victim's niece claims he was being abusive to her and her children.

During the traumatic ordeal that ended in her uncle's death, the woman's four children were forced to take shelter, locking themselves in a closet.

Deputies said the children are OK but were understandably shaken by the violence.

The victim appeared to have three puncture wounds, but investigators did not find a knife inside the home.

A couple who was inside the home at the time of the incident told deputies they didn't witness what happened.

A woman is being questioned after a man was killed inside a home in north Harris County.