Mother charged with arson after 7-month-old dies in Rock Hill house fire, police say

ROCK HILL, S.C. — A mother has been charged with arson after her 7-month-old died in a Rock Hill house fire on Thursday, police said.

Firefighters responded to the home on Sanders Street, where they met with Laquita Joyce Henderson, 30. She told them her infant was inside the burning house.

Crews made it into the home, and the baby was taken to Piedmont Medical Center, but did not survive.

“I was in shock because I wasn’t sure if it was true, if it was real,” a family member said.

The child’s father told Channel 9 the baby’s name was Brianna Henderson and shared a photo of his daughter.

Authorities determined Henderson was responsible for the fire and charged her with second-degree arson. Police said they are still investigating, which may lead to additional charges.

One family member, Adam Turnbull said he is still trying to piece together what happened.

“I don’t know the details. I just know it was a bad situation,” he said.

“That make me feel bad, sad because a child shouldn’t deserve to be done like that. They’re supposed to live their whole entire life,” a neighbor said.

No other details have been released at this point as it’s an ongoing investigation.

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