October 27, 2026 BROOKLYN, NY A routine Saturday evening in Crown Heights disintegrated into a nightmare when an argument inside an apartment turned into an unthinkable act of violence—executed right in front of a terrified 11-year-old child.
Kenneth Rickenbacker, 44, now faces charges of attempted murder, arson, assault, and endangers the welfare of a child following a shocking incident at the Kingsborough Houses on October 24. Rickenbacker appeared in Brooklyn Criminal Court with his head and hands wrapped in thick bandages, reflecting injuries his attorney confirmed were burns sustained during the violent encounter.
A Monstrous Attack Inside a Crown Heights Apartment
According to court documents and police reports, the conflict erupted around 5:00 p.m. when Rickenbacker got into a heated dispute with his 38-year-old girlfriend.
Investigators say Rickenbacker pulled a knife, threatening both the woman and their shared 11-year-old daughter. In a terrifying escalation, he allegedly doused the woman in rubbing alcohol and set her ablaze.
When emergency responders arrived, heavy smoke was pouring from the apartment. Inside, firefighters and police officers encountered a horrific scene: the victim screaming in agony near a charred mattress. Emergency Medical Services rushed the victim to the specialized burn unit at Weill Cornell Hospital in Manhattan, where she was placed in a medically induced coma suffering from severe, life-threatening burns across her face, head, back, and hands.
The Child’s Testimony Crushes the Suspect's Cover Story
The couple's 11-year-old daughter witnessed the entire horrific assault unfold. Court records reveal that the young girl courageously gave police a detailed account of her father pouring the flammable liquid over her mother. She also told officers that Rickenbacker threatened to hurt both her and her mother if she spoke to anyone, before he fled the scene.
Rickenbacker offered a dramatically different version of events when he walked into the NYPD's 113th Precinct in Queens, ostensibly intending to file a report about the fire.
He claimed to police officers that he had merely arrived to pick up his daughter when an argument broke out. He asserted that his girlfriend already had rubbing alcohol on her hands, tried to attack him, and accidentally ignited herself with a lit cigarette when he pushed her away. However, investigators quickly dismissed his claim after it was directly contradicted by his own daughter's testimony. Police placed him under arrest on the spot.
A Past Criminal History and a Community in Shock
Court records indicate this is far from Rickenbacker’s first encounter with law enforcement. He was previously convicted in 2017 for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Following his court appearance, the judge ordered Rickenbacker remanded in custody without bail.
