Man Accused of Setting Girlfriend on Fire in Brooklyn Apartment While Daughter Watched

A Brooklyn man is accused of setting his girlfriend on fire inside their apartment Saturday evening while their young daughter witnessed the attack, according to prosecutors.

Kenneth Rickenbacker, 44, was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday on charges including attempted murder, arson, assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. Police and a criminal complaint state the incident occurred in an apartment in the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights on October 24, shortly after 5 p.m.

Prosecutors allege that before setting his girlfriend ablaze, Rickenbacker threatened his 11-year-old daughter with a knife. He then allegedly doused the 38-year-old woman in accelerant and set her on fire.

First responders arrived at the scene to find the apartment door emitting smoke and heard cries of pain coming from near a burning mattress. The victim was transported to Weill Cornell Hospital Burn Center, where she is currently in a medically induced coma.

Rickenbacker, who appeared in court with his head bandaged, reportedly told police that the incident was an accident. He claimed his girlfriend attacked him while he was picking up their daughter, and that she had rubbing alcohol on her hands. He stated that when he pushed her, she caught fire from a lit cigarette.

Authorities apprehended Rickenbacker when he attempted to report the fire to police in Queens. He was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple offenses. His lawyer indicated that his bandages were due to burns sustained in the incident. Rickenbacker is being held in custody.