Cold Case of 2004 Murder of 8-Year-Old Rochester Girl Moves to Trial

Written by on February 2, 2025

After two decades, the cold case of 8-year-old Savannah Streber, who was killed in a 2004 house fire in Rochester, is finally going to trial.

Timothy Kuhn, 63, was arrested in Florida in early 2024 and charged with murder and arson. Authorities say Kuhn was a person of interest early in the investigation, as Savannah’s mother had a no-contact order against him at the time of the fire due to a previous assault. Prosecutors argue that while Kuhn did not intentionally murder Savannah, the fire was intentionally set, making her death a consequence of domestic violence-related arson.

Savannah’s family, including her younger sister Alexandra, who was only three years old at the time, and her mother, Lisa Routier, have expressed both grief and determination to see justice served.

Detective Dave Joseph of the Rochester Police Department was credited with keeping the case alive, regularly checking in with the family even when the investigation seemed stalled.

Kuhn’s trial is set to begin on July 30, marking a significant step in the family’s long fight for justice.

Source: Rochester First


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