A New York woman is on trial after police say she intentionally started a fire that killed a 5-year-old boy.
According to ABC 13, Taquida Hendrix, 31, has been charged with murder and arson, in connection with the 2024 house fire death of Malakai Stoval.
Hendrix is currently on trial in Rochester.
Prosecutors reported that the incident took place on July 28, 2024, at a two-story residence on Portland Avenue. Malakai was asleep in his bed when the fire consumed the house, leaving him trapped on the second floor.
He had burns on over 75 percent of his body and later died at Strong Memorial Hospital.
Two other individuals involved, the defendant’s sister Tiakayla Hendrix and Roy Chambers, pleaded guilty last month to arson and have agreed to testify against Taquida Hendrix.
Tiakayla Hendrix and Chambers reportedly acted as lookouts while the defendant doused the house’s front porch with gasoline. Prosecutors stated the sisters were seeking retribution against someone they believed had harmed their father.
News 10 conveyed that police indicated the child was not the intended victim. His parents were out of town, and he was at home with a babysitter.
The babysitter was later treated for smoke inhalation.
At a news conference last August, Capt. Frank Umbrino from the Rochester Police Department declared that Malakai’s family “had absolutely nothing to do with the tragedy that occurred.”
“They had no connection to anything that may have precipitated the setting of the house on fire.”
Taquida Hendrix’s lawyer claimed the defendant was unaware a child was present in the house and denied her participation in igniting the fire.
“She certainly did not know there was a child inside that building at the time,” her lawyer, Rhian Jones, said. “She had no role in actually setting the fire itself.”
Sentencing for the two others defendants is scheduled for September 29.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Malakai Stoval/Handout]
