A Brooklyn man has been arrested and charged with setting his girlfriend on fire as their daughter watched in horror over the weekend.

According to police sources, 44-year-old Kenneth Rickenbacker has been charged with attempted murder, arson, assault, and acting in a manner injurious to a child younger than 17. He was cuffed following the horrific attack on Saturday evening.

On Monday afternoon, Rickenbacker appeared before a judge in Brooklyn Criminal Court with his head and hands wrapped in bandages, with his attorney stating that he had suffered burns.

Cops say Rickenbacker got into a verbal dispute with his 38-year-old girlfriend inside an apartment located at the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights at around 5 p.m. on Oct. 24 when he allegedly dosed her with rubbing alcohol and set her ablaze.

According to court documents, he allegedly threatened the victim and the 11-year-old child they share with a knife before the fiery assault. When first responders arrived, they found smoke pouring out of the apartment and could hear the victim screaming in pain near a burned mattress.

Court records also show the 11-year-old girl witnessed the entire incident and told police that Rickenbacker not only dosed her mother in rubbing alcohol but also told her not to tell anyone or he would “hurt” both her and her mother. He then fled.

EMS rushed the victim to the Weill Cornell Hospital burn unit in Manhattan with severe burns to her face, head, back, and hands. She has been placed in a medically induced coma.

Meanwhile, Rickenbacker told police that the argument took place when he went to pick his daughter up. He said she already had rubbing alcohol on her hands and that she attempted to attack him. He stated that when he pushed her off, she caught on fire from a lit cigarette she held in her hand. This story was directly contradicted by his own daughter.

Sources say Rickenbacker was arrested when he walked into the 113th Precinct in Queens, attempting to make a report about the fire, but was instead taken into custody.

Rickenbacker was previously convicted in 2017 for criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and abuse from a partner, you can call the City’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-621-HOPE .

Dean Moses is the Police Bureau Chief at amNewYork and resident photographer. He leads coverage of the NYPD, crime, criminal justice, and breaking news.

All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines . Schneps Media does not endorse the views shared by readers in our comment sections.