Camilla Jessen
Trial is underway for Taquida Hendrix, who is accused of setting a house fire that killed a five-year-old boy.
A Rochester woman is on trial for murder and arson after prosecutors say she deliberately set a house fire that killed five-year-old Malakai Stovall.
Fire That Turned Deadly
The fire broke out around 2 a.m. on July 29, 2024, at a home in Rochester, New York.
Flames quickly engulfed the porch and spread inside, trapping Malakai on the second floor.
He suffered severe burns and was placed on a ventilator before dying three days later in the hospital, according to the Democrat & Chronicle.
Babysitter’s Desperate Plea
On Wednesday, jurors heard from Malakai’s babysitter, 20-year-old Toni Kendrick, who was asleep in the home when smoke woke her.
She tried to reach the boy upstairs but was blocked by heavy fire.
Her panicked 911 call was played in court, capturing her pleas for help: “Hurry up! I can’t get to him,” ABC13 reported.
Prosecutors Say Fire Was Intentional
Taquida Hendrix, 32, is accused of setting the blaze.
Prosecutors allege she deliberately started the fire on the front porch of the home, turning it into a death trap.
She is charged with murder and arson in connection with the boy’s death.
Injured Firefighters
Two Rochester firefighters were also hurt battling the blaze, KATV reported.
Emotional Evidence in Court
Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Kevin Sunderland told jurors the babysitter’s 911 call was crucial for understanding the horror inside the burning home.
“We want them to hear what people were feeling in those moments and what was actually being said, because I think it paints a truer picture of the horrible chaos that existed when that fire is happening,” Sunderland said, according to WHEC.
Other Defendants Plead Guilty
Hendrix is not the only one tied to the case.
Her sister, Tiakayla Hendrix, and another person, Roy Chambers, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree arson, WHEC reported.
Their roles in the case are expected to be addressed during the trial.
Trial Continues
As many as 30 witnesses are expected to testify in the case.
Prosecutors aim to prove Hendrix acted intentionally, while her defense will have the chance to argue otherwise.
