ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Testimony resumed Thursday in the trial of Taquida Hendrix, who is accused of working with her sister to intentionally set a fire that killed a 5-year-old boy in Rochester.
The jury heard from the fire investigator who believes the fire was intentionally set. They also saw a recording of Hendrix speaking to police in the hours after the fire.
Taquida Hendrix is accused of setting fire to a home on Portland Avenue in Rochester during the summer of 2024. The fire trapped 5-year-old Malakai Stovall in his upstairs bedroom, resulting in his death.
Investigators believe Taquida and her sister, Tikayla Hendrix, started the blaze thinking someone else lived in the house. Tikayla Hendrix has already pleaded guilty to second-degree arson and may testify against her sister as part of her plea deal.
Another man named Roy Chambers also pleaded guilty to second-degree arson in late August.
READ MORE: Two suspects plead guilty to arson related to fire that killed 5-year-old boy
“I think you’ll hear more about that as we go on,” said Assistant District Attorney Kevin Sunderland. “We prepare every witness, like we do any witness, and the first rule is telling the truth and it’s the number thing we remind every witness, first and last at the end of every meeting… is tell the truth.”
The family of the 5-year-old boy has been present in the courtroom during the trial.
See what happened during the first two days of her trial below:
- Trial of woman accused of intentionally setting deadly fire gets underway
- Testimony continues Wednesday in murder-arson trial of Taquida Hendrix
AI assisted with the formatting of this story. Click here to see how WHEC News10NBC uses AI
The post Jury hears from fire investigator, sees suspect’s police interview in day 3 of Taquida Hendrix trial appeared first on WHEC.com.
