Sisters plead not guilty to fire that killed five-year-old on Portland Avenue

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Police arrested two sisters Tuesday for an arson that killed a five-year-old boy in Rochester.

Tiakalya and Taquida Hendrix were both arraigned in court Wednesday morning and entered their pleas of not guilty. This comes after a fire that killed Malakai Stovall. When they left court, the mother of Malakai yelled “Malakai Stovall, say his name!”

Malakai died Thursday, three days after the fire. His family remembered him as “a kid that wasn’t afraid of anything.”

Investigators said Tiakalya and Taquida used a flammable substance to start the fire on the porch of the building around 2:00 a.m. on July 29. Malakai was trapped on the second floor until firefighters could get him out.

Tiakalya, 21, and Taquida, 31, were arrested Tuesday. Both were charged with second-degree murder and first-degree arson.

News 8 spoke with members of Malakai’s family Tuesday evening.

“It’s a very very big start and it couldn’t have come at a better time,” Malakai’s grandmother Karen Mitchell said. “We’re just elated that before he’s laid to rest, he’s going to be laid to rest knowing that there is justice on the horizon.”

Watch the full briefing

A 19-year-old babysitter in the house at the time of the fire was unable to get upstairs due to how quickly it spread. Police said she was treated for smoke inhalation.

Two firefighters were also treated for injuries. Both remained out of work Tuesday, one with burns to the face and the other with rib and back injuries.

Investigators said Malakai and his family had no connection to the Hendrix sisters. Police did not detail any assumed motive behind the incident.

“This was intentional,” RPD Captain Frank Umbrino said. “This was the intended home that they were going to set on fire. I’m sorry it’s just, at some point it will come out. Just not yet.”

The suspects will be back in court on Friday at 10:30 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.