ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Taquida Hendrix, one of the two sisters responsible for a house fire on Portland Avenue that killed a 5-year-old boy, was sentenced to prison Wednesday.
A month ago, a judge sentenced Taquida’s sister, Tiakayla Hendrix, but couldn’t sentence Taquida because she requested a hearing under the state’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act. The act gives judges the discretion to issue lower sentences to survivors of domestic violence who can establish that their abuse was a contributing factor to their offense.
The two sisters, along with complice Roy Chambers, used a flammable substance to ignite the front porch of the home in July of 2024, according to prosecutors. The fire killed Malakai Stovall, who was home with a babysitter at the time.
A jury found Taquida Hendrix guilty of second-degree murder and arson in September. During the trial, Tiakayla testified against her sister. According to Tiakayla, the sisters were seeking revenge on people who beat up their father earlier in the day. Tiakayla testified that they targeted the duplex because they believed the attackers lived there, but set the fire on the wrong side, killing Malakai.
Tiakayla Hendrix and Chambers both pleaded guilty to arson in August. Tiakayla is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence and was also sentenced to five years of post-release supervision. During sentencing, Tiakayla apologized to Malakai’s family in the courtroom.
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