Taquida Hendrix received the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison for second-degree murder and first-degree arson, plus seven years for second-degree assault, following the July 2024 fire in Rochester, New York, that killed 5-year-old Malakai Stovall. The incident stemmed from retaliation for an alleged assault on her father, but Hendrix targeted the wrong home, dousing the porch with gasoline around 2 a.m. while the boy slept inside with a babysitter.​​
Victim Impact
Malakai suffered burns over 75% of his body and died days later despite rescue efforts by firefighters. Family members, including grandmother Karen Mitchell and mother Brianna Akers, expressed profound grief in court, noting Hendrix showed no remorse and requesting life without parole.​​
Co-Defendants’ Roles
Hendrix’s sister Tiakayla Hendrix (21) and accomplice Roy Chambers acted as lookouts; both pleaded guilty to second-degree arson. Tiakayla received 12 years, Chambers nine years, and both apologized during their December 2025 sentencings.​​
Trial and Sentencing Details
A Monroe County jury convicted Hendrix in September 2025 after just 30 minutes of deliberation. Judge Stephen Miller imposed the sentence on January 7, 2026, following a hearing under New York’s Domestic Violence Survivor’s Justice Act, which her attorney invoked unsuccessfully.
