'Killer' sisters are accused of starting house fire that killed five-year-old boy while he was sleeping

Two alleged arsonist sisters have been accused of starting a house fire that killed a sleeping five-year-old boy in New York. 

Tiakayla, 21, and Taquida Hendrix, 31, appeared in court on Monday. Both women were charged with second-degree murder and first-degree arson in the death of little Malakai Stovall.

Stovall was at home with a 19-year-old babysitter when the fire broke out on the porch of the Portland Avenue, Rochester, home at 2am on July 29. 

The sisters allegedly used a flammable substance to ignite the fatal fire. 

The youngster, five, was trapped on the upper level of the property as the flames roared through the home. It's unclear where his parents were at the time. 

Firefighters pulled Malaki from the burning house, but he sustained burns across more than 75 percent of his body and died at hospital. The babysitter survived.

A Monroe County grand jury voted indict at least one felony, according to Assistant District Attorney Kevin Sunderland. The case, he said, will move from Rochester City Court to state supreme court.

During last week's arraignment, the Hendrix sisters pleaded not guilty, local News10NBC reported.

A motive has not been made clear, and it is unknown if the women are related in any way to the child or his family. 

Rochester Police Captain Frank Umbrino said: 'Malakai and his family had absolutely nothing to do with the tragedy that occurred. 

'They had no connection to anything that may have precipitated in the setting of the house on fire.' 

On Monday, during the preliminary hearing, the judge remanded the sisters to the Monroe County Jail without bail. 

During last week's arraignment, Malakai's family wore shirts with his picture in the courtroom. Brianna Akers, the youngster's distraught mother, yelled out: 'Malakai Stovall! Say his name!' as Taquida Hendrix walked out of the courtroom. 

She issued a statement: 'I would like to say thank you to everyone that has helped find the people that did this to my son.'

'I would also like to say to the people that would ever think that I would put my child in harms way intentionally or have a lifestyle that would put my child in harms way, you're evil and I just want to be able to grieve and remember my baby boy, my only baby boy in peace. 

'I think we deserve that. It was Malakai’s world, I was just living in it, and it is going to take a mountain of support for me to even have a glimpse of happiness of what Malakai brought to me. 

'Again, I would like to thank the Rochester Police Department and fire department for doing their absolute best. For the people that killed my baby, I hope you see my precious boys face every single day and every night before you go to sleep. 

'I will see you at every court case and send you letters in prison to remind you of what you’ve taken from me. A stranger, yet you’ve taken my whole world away.'

Stovall's grandmother, Karen Mitchell, said: 'We the family of Malakai Stovall are elated to see that an arrest was made today, and we will now rely on the justice system to prosecute these people to the fullest extent of the law. 

'Although nothing makes this right, this is the first step towards getting Kai Kai the justice he deserves. 

'Our lives have forever been changed by this senseless act of violence and these people must pay. 

'We also continue to pray for the health of the two injured firefighters, and would like to express our most heartfelt gratitude to all of the firefighters who fought so hard to rescue our sweet Kai Kai.' 

Mayor Malik Evans said following the arrest of the two women: 'I hope this sends a message to those that think they can wreak havoc in our city, that we will hunt you down and make sure you will be held accountable.'