Family remembers girl killed by arson on her 29th birthday

ROCHESTER, NY (WROC) — The family of an 8-year-old girl who died in a fire in 2004 celebrated her 29th birthday Thursday.

This was the first anniversary since Timothy Kuhn was accused of setting the Yates Street fire. Investigators said Kuhn was the only person of interest in the case and evidence found in recent years led to his arrest.

“I’m glad we’re finally getting justice. Hopefully everything will be OK,” said Savannah’s mother Lisa Routier. “It’s sad because every year it doesn’t get any easier. It’s just awful, but we’re all here together and that’s the most important thing – everyone is here.”

On February 8, 2004, the house caught fire while the babysitter was trying to get all the children out of the house. Savannah was unable to make it and lost her life in the fire.

Kuhn threw a Molotov cocktail that started a fire on the back porch of the house. Investigators accused Kuhn of causing the fire because he had a volatile relationship with Routier and issued a no-contact order against him.

Kuhn is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree arson.