On Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, at approximately 2:19 P.M., officers were dispatched to a residence on 11th Avenue NE in the City of Rochester, County of Olmsted, State of Minnesota. The residence is one half of a duplex, and is on the west side of 11th Avenue NE, facing east. Each of the two units in the duplex has its own front door on the east side of the structure. The front doors sit side by side and share a set of wooden front steps and a wooden landing. The front doors lead to a vestibule containing an internal set of stairs leading to an interior door to the unit.
Upon arrival, Ofc. Goergen spoke to the residents, an adult male and an adult female (hereinafter Victims). The male victim [NAME REDACTED] one of the two units and the female victim lives in the other unit. According to the male victim, he was driving home when he received an alert on his Ring doorbell camera at approximately 2:19 P.M. The Ring doorbell camera showed JESSICA ANN KUHLMANN [DOB REDACTED] placing a piece of paper on the top doorstep and igniting it directly in front of the Ring camera.
The male victim drove home immediately and extinguished the fire. According to the male victim, [NAME REDACTED] in the alley near his residence. The male victim [NAME REDACTED] in his vehicle and grabbed her arm to prevent her from leaving. The male victim held KUHLMANN until officers arrived. The female victim [NAME REDACTED] from the exterior of the residence. The exterior video shows KUHLMANN entering and exiting the vestibule. The Ring camera video shows KUHLMANN igniting a piece of paper on the top step directly in front of the camera.
Ofc. Goergen observed ashes and burnt material on the top step. Ofc. Norland took custody of KUHLMANN from the male victim. KUHLMANN was placed under arrest. Following the Miranda Warning, KUHLMANN admitted lighting a food wrapper on top of the stairs directly in front of the apartment door. KUHLMANN stated that she wanted to scare the female victim [NAME REDACTED] ongoing dispute between KUHLMANN and the female victim. KUHLMANN also admitted starting a fire at the same residence on September 26, 2 55-CR-25-9868 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 12/26/2025 2025 (ICR 25-49796) for the same reasons.
On that occasion, the front door was significantly burned. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: YOU MUST APPEAR FOR EVERY COURT HEARING REGARDING THIS CASE. FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR COURT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND MAY RESULT IN ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL CHARGES BEING IMPOSED AND PUNISHED AS PROVIDED IN MINNESOTA STATUTES SECTION 609.49.
