In a court case, a woman is facing allegations of igniting a house fire that resulted in the death of a five-year-old boy named Malakai Stovall. Taquida Hendrix, 32, is charged with murder and arson in relation to the tragic incident that occurred on August 1 in Rochester, New York. Following the fire set on the family’s front porch around 2 am on July 29, 2024, Malakai sustained severe burns and succumbed to his injuries three days later at a local hospital.
During the court proceedings on Wednesday, September 10, a babysitter named Toni Kendrick, who was caring for Malakai at the time, recounted waking up to a house filled with smoke. Despite her efforts to rescue the boy from the second floor, she was thwarted by the intense blaze. The jury heard Kendrick’s frantic call to emergency services as she implored them to act quickly, expressing her inability to reach the child.
Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Kevin Sunderland emphasized the importance of the jury listening to Kendrick’s distressing call, stating that it provided a genuine depiction of the chaotic situation during the fire. Captain Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department described the rapid engulfment of the house in flames, resulting in the tragic death of Malakai and injuries to two firefighters.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans denounced the incident as a senseless tragedy, emphasizing the devastating impact on the young victim and the broader community. Malakai, who was under the care of a babysitter as his parents were away, suffered extensive burns over 75% of his body and was placed on a ventilator after the fire. The duplex residence was completely destroyed in the blaze, further highlighting the severity of the situation.
The trial is set to feature testimonies from thirty witnesses, with Hendrix’s sister Tiakayla and another individual, Roy Chambers, having previously pleaded guilty to second-degree arson. This development was reported by WHEC.
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