Alleged arsonist sets girlfriend on fire inside NYC apartment as daughter watched in horror: prosecutors

A savage firebug doused his girlfriend in accelerant and set her ablaze inside a Brooklyn apartment Saturday evening – as the couple’s young daughter watched from feet away, prosecutors alleged. 

A bandaged Kenneth Rickenbacker, 44, was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday for the alleged weekend assault against his 38-year-old girlfriend, according to police and a criminal complaint.

A man wearing a black hoodie with his head wrapped tightly in medical gauze.

Kenneth Rickenbacker, 44, was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday for the alleged weekend arson, which began when a verbal dispute between him and his 38-year-old girlfriend took a turn for the worse, according to police and a criminal complaint. Pool Photo/Dean Moses

Rickenbacker’s alleged fiery terror began inside a Kingsborough Houses apartment in Crown Heights on Oct. 24 just after 5 p.m., cops said.

The dad first threatened his 11-year-old daughter with a knife before he committed his brutal blazing assault on his girlfriend, according to court documents. 

Exterior view of an apartment building in Brooklyn.

Rickenbacker allegedly threatened his 11-year-old daughter with a knife before he committed his brutal blazing assault on his girlfriend, according to court documents.  FOX 5 New York

Rickenbacker horrifically set his girlfriend on fire, then fled the apartment, prosecutors said.

First responders rushed to the scene not long after the alleged attack, and were greeted by an apartment door billowing with smoke – and a voice crying out in pain near a torched mattress, amNewYork reported. 

The victim was rushed to Weill Cornell Hospital Burn Center, where she is in a medically induced coma. 

Rickenbacker reportedly told cops it was a bizarre accident that set his girlfriend ablaze after he pushed her when she tried to attack him while he stopped by to pick his daughter up, according to the outlet.

Exterior of a brick apartment building in Brooklyn.

Prosecutors said that Rickenbacker set his girlfriend on fire, then fled the scene. FOX 5 New York

Headshot of a Black man with a beard, looking at the camera.

Rickenbacker told cops it was a bizarre accident that set his girlfriend ablaze after he pushed her when she tried to attack him while he stopped by to pick his daughter up.  FOX5

Rickenbacker claimed his girlfriend already had rubbing alcohol on her hands, and when he shoved her, she caught on fire from a lit cigarette, the publication reported. 

The alleged arsonist was arrested after he attempted to report the fire to police in Queens, but was instead taken into custody, sources told the local outlet.

FDNY ambulance parked on a Manhattan street during the daytime, with city buildings and other cars in the background.

According to the complaint, the 38-year-old woman was taken to Weill Cornell Hospital Burn Center, where she is in a medically induced coma.  Massimo Parisi – stock.adobe.com

The alleged firestarter was hit with a slew of charges including attempted murder, arson, assault, and acting in a manner injurious to a child younger than 17.

Rickenbacker appeared with nearly his whole head wrapped in bandages at his arraignment on Monday, which his lawyer said were from burns. 

He was remanded into custody.

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