ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Tiakayla Hendrix, one of the sisters responsible for a house fire on Portland Avenue that killed a 5-year-old boy, has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars and five years of post-release supervision.
Her accomplice, Roy Chambers, was also sentenced to nine years in prison on Monday and is eligible for parole after five years. Tiakayla’s sister, Taquida Hendrix, will be sentenced later because she’s entitled to a hearing under the Domestic Violence Survivors Act.
Tiakayla Hendrix and Chambers both pleaded guilty to arson in August. Prosecutors say they, along with Taquida Hendrix, used a flammable substance to ignite the front porch of the home in July of 2024. 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 Stovall.
Taquida Hendrix won’t be sentenced until after her hearing is complete. Under New York State law, both the prosecution and defense must look back at cases where a defendant was a documented victim of abuse before sentencing.
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