Posted on: October 27, 2026 06:30 AM

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Brooklyn man arrested for setting girlfriend on fire with rubbing alcohol in front of young daughter

On the weekend, a Brooklyn man was taken into custody and charged with burning his girlfriend alive as their daughter watched in shock.

Kenneth Rickenbacker, 44, has been accused of attempted murder, arson, assault, and acting in a manner detrimental to a kid under the age of 17, according to police sources. Following the horrific attack on Saturday night, he was cuffed.

Rickenbacker appeared in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday afternoon with his hands and head covered in bandages, and his attorney said that he had burns.

According to police, Rickenbacker allegedly gave his 38-year-old girlfriend rubbing alcohol and set her on fire inside a flat at the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights at around 5 p.m. on October 24 when he got into a verbal argument with her.

Before the horrific assault, court documents indicate that he reportedly threatened the victim and their mutual 11-year-old child with a knife. Upon arrival, first responders discovered smoke escaping from the flat and heard the victim screaming in agony close to a burned mattress.

According to court documents, the 11-year-old girl saw the entire occurrence and informed the police that Rickenbacker not only poured rubbing alcohol on her mother but also threatened to "damage" her mother and herself if she told anyone. He ran away after that.