Woman who set house ablaze and killed 5-year-old guilty
Share this @internewscast.com

Left inset: Taquida Hendrix (WHAM/YouTube). Right inset: Malakai Stovall (GoFundMe). Background: The home Taquida Hendrix is accused of setting on fire, resulting in the death of 5-year-old Malakai Stovall (WHAM/YouTube).

A woman from New York who mistakenly set a house on fire in a supposed act of revenge for an alleged attack on her father, leading to the death of a sleeping 5-year-old boy, was convicted on Thursday of murder and arson.

Monroe County jurors needed just 30 minutes in total—15 on Wednesday and another 15 on Thursday—to find Taquida Hendrix, 31, guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree arson for the July 2024 fire in Rochester that claimed the life of Malakai Stovall, according to NBC affiliate WHEC.

“It does make me feel a little bit better than I thought it would,” said Malakai’s mother, Brianna Akers, to WHEC. “At least they’re able to hear and see the same thing I did, that she is guilty of murder and arson and everything she was charged with.”

Hendrix displayed no emotion as the verdict was announced on Thursday following the swift jury deliberation, as reported by WHEC. Her sister, Tiakayla Hendrix, 21, testified against her last week after agreeing to a deal regarding her own role, which involved accompanying Taquida Hendrix to Malakai’s residence. Another individual, Roy Chambers, joined the siblings, seeking revenge for an alleged earlier attack on the Hendrix siblings’ father, according to the prosecution.

The trio thought a person involved in the alleged attack lived at Malakai’s home, but it turned out they had the wrong house.

“The defendant’s sister corroborated our case theory, confirming that the defendant is responsible for starting this fire,” Assistant District Attorney Kevin Sunderland stated during the trial, as reported by NBC affiliate WHAM. “She poured the flammable liquid that was ignited outside the victim’s home, and this catastrophe is because of her actions,” Sunderland noted.

Flames ripped through Stovall’s house on July 28 at around 2 a.m. after Taquida Hendriz poured gasoline on the two-story residence and set it ablaze. Tiakayla Hendrix and Chambers kept a lookout, according to prosecutors. Malakai, who was tucked into bed on the second floor, was severely injured in the fire and died several days later at a local hospital.

“My baby was up there [in the house] for 21 minutes with no heartbeat,” Akers, told WHAM on July 31.

Tiakayla Hendrix and Chambers were each charged with murder and arson, but they agreed to plea deals last month on the arson charge in exchange for their testimony against Taquida Hendrix, according to prosecutors. Tiakayla Hendrix was accused of purchasing the lighter used to spark the fire, but she did not take part in setting it.

According to her lawyer, “She certainly did not know there was a child inside that building at the time,” per WHAM. “She had no role in actually setting the fire itself,” the lawyer said.

Karen Mitchell, Malakai’s grandmother, told local media outlets that the family was shocked by the plea deals and expected all three individuals to go on trial.

“I just cried. I mean, it’s very bittersweet,” Mitchell told WHAM. “I want them to understand it wasn’t just, you know, this 5-year-old, or this little boy, who died in a fire; he was a little boy who lived, and he loved life.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Gainesville Man Faces Charges After Alleged Door-Kicking Incident and Assault on Woman

Staff Report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities took Kelvin Lee Pritchett, 40, into…

Shocking Verdict: Mom Avoids Prison After Forcing Family into Lake in Bizarre ‘Worthiness’ Test

Left inset: Ruth Miller (Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: The boat…

Stepfather Fatally Shoots Stepson with AK-Style Rifle Amid Escalating Tensions Over Stolen Tools, Police Report

Share An Arkansas man has allegedly admitted to police that he fatally…

Sheriff Reveals Shocking Case of Starved Boys Under Strict Parental Discipline

Inset, left to right: Dulce Crystal Bazan Castillo and Auturo Bazan-Perez (Oakland…

WA Bush Track Discovery Sparks Intense Murder Investigation

A homicide investigation has been launched after a man’s body was found…

Tragic Hit-and-Run: 22-Year-Old Killed by Semitruck While Changing Tire as Girlfriend Watches in Horror

Inset: Alejandro Covarrubias (GoFundMe). Background: Interstate 5, south of the Templin Highway…

Shocking Incident: Pastor Allegedly Pushes Elderly Woman Down Church Steps, Resulting in Severe Injuries

Inset: Pastor Lorenz Roseman. Background: Surveillance video allegedly showing California church elder…

Gold Coast Mother’s Urgent Appeals to Police Deemed ‘Lower Priority’ Prior to Her Tragic Murder

Police knew of “high risk” domestic violence complaints against a man weeks…

Amnesia or Guilt? Man Claims Memory Loss After Woman Found Dead in Camper, Police Investigate

Background: The campground at Mac”s Park Place in Mazeppa, Minn. (Google Maps).…

Repeat Offender Receives Reduced Sentence in Beloved Postmaster’s Death Case

A man who was twice found guilty of manslaughter over his drunken…

Arkansas Tragedy: Man Faces Charges in Stepson’s Fatal Shooting

A man from Arkansas has been officially charged with murder following the…

Airport Employee Faces Court Over Alleged Offensive Gesture Towards Jewish Children

An airport worker has faced court over claims he performed a Nazi…