Rochester man set on fire had a deaf girlfriend

A man who lived in Rochester, Steven Amenhauser, died last week at a hospital after he was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire by two teenagers two Fridays ago.

There was some confusion on if Steven was a deaf man or not, and after checking with some people, it seems like he was a hearing man. However, there are some connections with the deaf community.

A Rochester-area radio host named Bob Lonsberry said Steven had a deaf girlfriend named Marie that died several months ago.

On Steven’s Facebook page, you can see that he signs, “ILY” in one of his pictures.

One of the teenagers accused of setting fire on Steven was charged with robbing a deaf man who bought pizza several months ago.

So there are some connections with the Deaf community in this case. I will go back to the beginning.

Local news said police officers received a report on Friday, March 12 that there was a man severely burned in an area west of downtown Rochester. He was hospitalized with second and third-degree burns on 70% of his body. He died at 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16.

A 16-year-old teenager and a 14-year-old teenager were charged with murder. Rochester Police said Steven was sitting on a chair in his apartment when he was poured with a liquid and set aflame. He managed to run out of his home where two people tried to help him.

The Rochester Police Department Captain Frank Umbrino said Steven was adopted as a child and did not have any remaining family. He said Steven was from Texas and that his wife passed away several years ago. He explained that he had a long-time girlfriend that died in October, and since then, he was in a vulnerable state with declining health until he was killed.

Monroe County will take care of the funeral costs since there is no family. There was a GoFundMe set up that will help to pay for the cost of a headstone.

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WHEC News reported that a Monroe County Grand Jury has voted to indict both teenagers on at least one felony charge, but it is not known what exactly the charge is. The case is more complicated than most cases because of the age of the suspects. It is possible that the suspects will be tried as adults.

The 14-year-old suspect was charged with robbing a deaf man in a parking lot on Chili Avenue on September 27, 2020. It is not known who the deaf man is.

WHEC News said the two teenagers were arrested together on January 30 for having a stolen car, and one parent from each teenager were charged for not supervising their children and not knowing where they were.

So, that’s the story of what happened to Steven Amenhauser. It is not known when his funeral will be. News reports showed pictures of a small memorial set up outside of his old apartment.

https://www.whec.com/rochester-new-york-news/rochester-police-firefighters-investigating-after-man-found-severely-burned-on-lyell-avenue-/6041492/?cat=565

https://www.whec.com/rochester-new-york-news/das-office-teens-charged-in-setting-rochester-man-on-fire-indicted-on-at-least-one-felony-charge/6049862/

https://www.whec.com/rochester-new-york-news/police-arrest-16-year-old-for-setting-man-on-fire/6042043/?cat=565

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/public-safety/2021/03/16/2-teens-face-murder-charges-after-death-of-man-allegedly-set-on-fire-

https://meaww.com/gofundme-steven-amenhauser-lonely-man-burial-murder-set-on-fire-two-teenage-boys

http://www.lonsberry.com/writings.cfm?story=4446&go=4

https://www.whec.com/rochester-new-york-news/i-didnt-do-it-16-year-old-yells-at-his-murder-arraignment-in-death-of-man-set-on-fire/6045644/

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/human-interest/2021/03/19/woman-starts-gofundme-to-help-with-burial-for-man-set-on-fire