Timothy Kuhn threw a Molotov cocktail into a home, killing Savannah Streber, 8, police said. (Mug shot: Holmes County Sheriff’s Office)
On Feb. 28, 2004, someone threw a Molotov cocktail into a Rochester, New York, home, starting a catastrophic fire that killed Savannah Streber, 8, and though cops said they had a person of interest, they had no immediate news of charges.
That changed Thursday, more than a month short of the 20th anniversary. The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said they, Rochester police detectives, and U.S. Marshals officials arrested local man Timothy Kuhn, 63, and jailed him for extradition back to New York.
“We are very thankful to everyone that made this happen,” Savannah’s mother, Lisa Routier, said, according to Rochester ABC and CW affiliate WHAM.
Streber was reportedly sleeping on her mother’s bed at a home on Yates Street. Her younger sister, Alex, the babysitter, and the babysitter’s son were at the residence, too. Police claim that someone threw the Molotov cocktail from the back porch area, according to Dateline in a 2020 report.
At the time, the sitter’s son reportedly said the home suddenly became “smoky and fiery” as his mother was drying clothes.
Savannah’s older half-sister, Kelly, told Dateline that the babysitter woke up Savannah and Alex as the son went for help.
Rochester Police Sgt. David Joseph said everyone made it out except for Savannah. The babysitter, Shonda Whitaker, suffered serious burns trying to make it back inside to save Savannah.
“It’s just really heartbreaking,” said Joseph, who said that Savannah tried looking for her mother. “But her mother wasn’t there. It’s just a really horrific way for an eight-year-old girl to die.”
“Everything was stolen from her and from us,” Kelly said. “We missed out on her growing up, her birthdays, her Sweet 16, prom, her graduation, her wedding and having children of her own. We missed it all.”
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