Man Accused in 2004 Rochester Fire That Killed Girl Returns from Florida to Face Charge Timothy Kuhn Savannah Streber Yates Street
CONFLICT signal, reported in US, from 13wham.com, with negative sentiment. Locations: Monroe County, Florida, United States.
What Happened
A man accused in a 2004 Rochester house fire that killed an 8-year-old girl has returned from Florida to face a federal charge. Timothy Kuhn, 66, of Pensacola, appeared in federal court on Thursday after being brought back from Florida. He was indicted last month on a federal charge of arson of property used in interstate commerce resulting in death for the Feb. 28, 2004, fire on Yates Street that killed Savannah Streber, an 8-year-old girl. Prosecutors allege Kuhn intentionally set the fire to the rental property, trapping Savannah inside. Kuhn was previously arrested in December 2023 and charged with murder and arson in Monroe County Court. However, on Oct. 7, 2025, his federal indictment was dismissed by Judge Stephen Miller after new information about the investigation emerged, with Rochester police attributing the issue to record-keeping problems. Federal prosecutors announced the new indictment on Oct. 19, roughly a year after the state charges were dismissed. If convicted, Kuhn could face life in prison.
Why it matters
The case involves a man who was previously charged with murder and arson in connection with the death of Savannah Streber, an 8-year-old girl killed in a 2004 fire. Kuhn’s federal indictment was recently dismissed due to record-keeping issues during the original investigation, but prosecutors have since reindicted him. If convicted, he faces life in prison. The case highlights ongoing challenges in handling historical criminal cases, particularly with record-keeping discrepancies. The outcome could impact future prosecutions of similar incidents involving property used in interstate commerce.
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