Man Accused of Setting Fatal House Fire That Killed 8-Year-Old Girl Arrested on Federal Charges More Than 20 Years Later

A case that remained unresolved for more than two decades has taken a dramatic turn after a Florida man accused of setting a deadly house fire in New York was arrested on federal charges. The blaze killed 8-year-old Savannah Streber in 2004, and the latest development has renewed hopes that the little girl’s family may finally see accountability in the case.

Timothy Kuhn, 66, was arrested at his home in Pensacola, Florida, on October 16, 2026, after a federal grand jury indicted him on a charge of arson involving property used in interstate commerce that resulted in death, according to the U.S. Department of Justice and court records cited by Law&Crime. Authorities allege that Kuhn deliberately set fire to a home in Rochester, New York, on February 28, 2004. Investigators said Kuhn had previously been romantically involved with the woman who lived at the property.

On the night of the fire, the mother was at work while her children were being cared for by a babysitter. The babysitter’s 11-year-old son reportedly noticed the blaze shortly after midnight, allowing the other occupants to escape. Savannah, however, ran toward her mother’s bedroom, according to police accounts. The babysitter attempted to return inside to rescue her, but the flames had become too intense. The little girl was later found dead in the bedroom.

Investigators determined that the fire had been deliberately set and originated on the home’s back porch. The case remained unsolved for years until detectives revisited the evidence and pursued new leads. In 2023, Kuhn was indicted on state charges of second-degree murder and arson. However, the prosecution suffered a major setback in late 2025 when a judge dismissed the charges shortly before jury selection was scheduled to begin. The district attorney said the dismissal was connected to a speedy-trial issue after information about an alleged confession to a former cellmate had not been adequately documented or acted upon.

Now, federal prosecutors have brought a separate charge, allowing the case to move forward under federal law. Authorities announced that Kuhn was in custody and would be extradited from Florida to New York. Although the new indictment represents a significant development, the allegations must still be proven in court.

For Savannah’s family, the case is about more than a criminal investigation. It is about a little girl whose life ended in a terrifying fire and a family that has spent years waiting for answers. Her death remains a painful reminder of the lasting consequences of arson, while the renewed prosecution offers the possibility of a new chapter in a case that has haunted loved ones for more than 20 years.

Source: Law&Crime