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February 09, 2005
Man Who Burned 6 Year Old Son Feeling The Heat Again
Charles Rothenberg, who was convicted of and jailed for setting his son on fire, was "convicted Tuesday of weapons charges and could face imprisonment for life." He "had admitted possessing a loaded .38-caliber revolver and dozens of rounds of ammunition, which are felonies for such a convicted offender."
This is what caught my attention:
In 1983, Rothenberg took his 6-year-old son, David, to Southern California for a Disneyland vacation without the knowledge of his ex-wife, with whom he was in a custody dispute.
At the time, a warrant had been issued for his arrest in connection with arson and embezzlement at a restaurant where he worked.
In a motel room, Rothenberg poured kerosene on the sleeping David, lighted it and fled. David suffered third-degree burns over 90% of his body and was permanently disfigured. His father became one of the nation's most reviled criminals.
Apprehended after the blaze, Rothenberg pleaded guilty to attempted murder and arson with great bodily injury, and received the maximum sentence: 13 years in prison. The Orange County Superior Court judge who sentenced him wept in his chambers that day, tormented by his inability to keep Rothenberg behind bars longer.
Posted on February 9, 2005 at 07:15 PM | Permalink
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Comments
I just finished reading about Davids' father. He was arrested on a gun possesion charge.
The judge wouldn't charge him under the 3 strikes law because burning his son only counted as 1 strike!? I can't believe this, here's a judge that can put this animal away for life and he doesn't do it on a technicality. This judge should be ashamed of himself.
Posted by: Gary at Apr 29, 2005 9:35:52 AM
I can not comprehend familicide at all. How can minds be so corrupt to think that these actions are justifiable. I was reading the most recent news and became curious, does anyone have any information on what became of the son David?
Posted by: Mark at Apr 29, 2005 2:09:01 PM
David now lives in Vegas. I see him around all the time. The only reason I know who he is is becuase I grew up 20 miles from where he lived and I am the same age as he is, so when his father did this to him it was all over the news for a long time.. I see him at a lot of concerts.
Posted by: Brad at May 4, 2005 11:12:59 AM
I've oftened wondered how David Rothenberg is doing.Last I heard his father Charles Rothenberg was begging his forgiveness and hoping to have a relationship with his son. That he can even think of such a thing is hard to believe. The man must be living in another world entirely. II've read that David is very well-adjusted and has many close friends. I hope that's true. Most of us can't imagine the pain he endured through the many corrective surgeries he's undergone. I also heard that he's decided not to continue with future surgeries and that he's secure within him self as he is. Anyone with information, I would like to know more about David and how he's doing. Also, how is his mother doing? Does Charles try to contact either of them? Thanks, Evan
Posted by: Evan at Jul 27, 2005 2:19:59 AM
Hello, I have also wondered about David. When I first heard his story I cried not just for what happened , but what was to happen. Like David I was burned as a small child, But not to the extent he was. So I know from first hand experience that after the burns heal. The soul and mind also have to heal. And this I know is hard because children are cruel. And their parents dont make it any easier for people like us. And to parents everywhere. Dont stop a child from asking . Because when you tell a child to not ask questions, you are placing a unhealty fear within them. They feel that if Mom or Dad says dont ask, then that person is bad. And then it leads to teasing and sometimes worse. People who have been hurt as bad as many of us have. Are at greater risks for suicide. Because we want the torment to end. It is bad enough to be burned and scared outwardly.. But when the teasing begins. That is almost always a total destruction of the Body,mind and spirit. So please Teach you children well. Thank you
Posted by: Gabby at Sep 3, 2005 12:05:54 PM
"The soul and mind also have to heal. And this I know is hard because children are cruel. And their parents dont make it any easier for people like us. And to parents everywhere. Dont stop a child from asking . Because when you tell a child to not ask questions, you are placing a unhealty fear within them. They feel that if Mom or Dad says dont ask, then that person is bad."
I'm really sorry to hear about what happened to you but I believe children are cruel because the adults around them allow them to get away with it.
My own opinion is that children should be told NOT to ask, at least not in earshot of the person. My children both learned early not to go around and ask rude questions of others and their physical appearance. I always taught my children ask ME about it or another adult when we are alone.
My daughter was friendly for a while with a little boy who always loudly commented on disabled people including a little girl in a wheelchair who lived in our building. I spoke with him about it and to his parents and they said they always taught him to ask if he had questions...So I told them not when he's with me he better not ask and I just stopped taking him out...
Actually the little boy did grow into a rude man and was eventually kicked out of space for his organization, which a college was giving him for free. He just never learned how to act civil when around others, even as an adult...
Children must be taught these things, otherwise they will never learn the proper way to behave.
Posted by: NYMOM at Sep 3, 2005 7:49:19 PM
I have been trying to follow the story about David for many years. I would like to wish he and his Mother a wonderful holiday.
My brother suffered burns in Viet-Nam and I was amazed at how people seem to no longer notice that you are still you.
Davids eyes remind me of my own brother, and the courage and stregnth he has is the truest form of a miracle I have ever seen.
As for his "Father" (said loosley) the court does not have in place anything befitting punishment.
There again, it should be up to David. However severe.
God bless, with Love
~Genie
Posted by: Genie at Dec 4, 2005 10:12:28 PM
I have been trying to find the 1988 TV movie DAVID, does anyone know where I could get a copy of it? If so please email me and let me know! Thanks!!
Posted by: Adam at Apr 25, 2006 10:00:06 AM
I am interested in what became of david and how I can get a copy of the movie. His story really touched my heart. Please contact me if you have any information. Thanks
Posted by: Allison at Jun 15, 2006 10:41:00 PM
I have being Looking for a copy of the move DAVID on dvd and cannot find it can anyone help me and get back to me on how to find it.
Posted by: Kristylee at Jun 26, 2006 1:00:11 AM
i remember wachin this movie when i was a lil girl i use get really bad nightmers,i just hope that david is well,also i have been lookin for the movie to see again now that i am older....if any one knows how to locate one please let me know
Posted by: angelica ochoa at Jun 26, 2006 5:28:02 AM
wat a sick dog
Posted by: daniel cassells at Jun 26, 2006 11:12:05 PM
how ya doin
Posted by: naomi at Jun 26, 2006 11:18:19 PM
I too have been wondering about David and wondering how he's doing. I remember when the movie first aired when I was 14, I wanted to see it. My parents and friends of mine told me how sad and upsetting the movie was. But I still wanted to see it. Then in 1991 at the age of 17 I saw the movie. I have never been so upset by a movie before. And I couldn't believe what I was seeing in that movie, I took off running up stair from the rec room and finished watchin the movie with my family. All I could do through the whole movie was cry. although everything about the movie was very heartbreaking. The part that upset me the most is the part where the Doctor showed him his reflection in the mirror for the first time and he though he looked like a monster and all I could this was no honey, your not the monster, your dad is the real monster. Why would anyone hurt their child like that is beyond me. My heart goes out to anyone that has gone throug this. None of you deserved to have that happen to you.......I remember when I was a little girl when I stayed in the hospital over night for surgery and I remeber another little girl who was a little older that I was whom I befriended that was brough in with terrible burns,although I was very young and never forgot about it happened, I still remember. And the day before I left the hospital I made sure that I went in to say bye and gave her an extra fan like that one I had and all the dubbles of the stuff I had already and I drew a pic for her and my mom wrote get well soon. I was also sure to asked my mom what happened to her and my parents told me.....I made sure to say a prayer for her that very night.
Posted by: Heather at Jul 16, 2006 7:41:39 PM
I think they should burn this guy at the stake!
Posted by: doug at Jul 17, 2006 5:36:32 PM
I've seen this movie twice, once when it first aired in the 80's, and the second time was on Lifetime Movie Network just a couple of years ago. I'm in my mid 20's now, so this means I'm just a few years younger then David. There's no way I could ever watch this movie again...it's absolutely horrifying. As a matter of fact, right before I started to watch this movie a second time,I was at my mom's house, and she left the room--she refused to be anywhere where she could possibly hear what was going on. She hadn't seen the movie, and didn't want to. I totally understand where she was coming from because when I seen the movie for the first time, I was a young child, so I really didn't remember too much of it. But seeing it for the second time really upset me. There are certain scenes which are very disturbing, and will stay with me forever. Some of these scenes include:
-David's mother walking with her boyfriend on the night of the horrific attack,telling him she had a gut feeling that something bad was going to happen to her son.
- David starting to cry when his father tells him that they won't get to go to Disneyland as his father had promised him.
- the phone conversation that took place between David's mother and father right before the attack,when David'd dad threatened to "take David away forever" and his mom was begging him not to do that, and to return her son to her safe and sound
-the awful sight of Charles pouring lighter fluid all over the bed--and realizing, with horror, what he was about to do as he then lit a match and threw it onto the bed in the hotel room
-the horrible, horrible sound of the explosion and the little boy's screams....
In my 25, almost 26 years of life, and living in a city where violence is not uncommon, I 've learned a lot about how evil, crazy, and just plain psychotic some people can be...however, I will NEVER, EVER, UNDERSTAND, NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY...HOW-IN THE WORLD-a parent can possibly even FATHOM doing this to their child, let alone actually going through with it. Then the worst part was,was that this awful, horrid,disgusting, wretched, psychopathic excuse for a man only got SEVEN YEARS. I really, really, hope that this judge, who is just as bad as Charles is, as far as I'm concerned, will have nightmares for the rest of his life.
I do wish David and his mother the absolute best. I've heard that they are both doing well, which is awesome, considering what they've been through. And although this movie was gruesome, scary, and very, very upsetting to me, and I'm unable to watch it again, it does make a good point: Don't give up, no matter how high the odds are stacked against you.
Posted by: ghostfan24 at Apr 16, 2007 6:14:38 AM
David Rothenberg is now known as Dave Dave and lives in Utah. He writes music and is trying to start a singing career.
Posted by: Dwight at Apr 24, 2007 10:29:04 AM
If anybody can email me up-to-date info. on david rothenberg;
it would be greatly appreciated. If you have contact info.
then please give it to me. Thank You In Advance!!
Posted by: Diane Redman at May 15, 2007 1:22:12 AM
Is there any website or store that I can buy that movie?..I've been wanting it for the longest time!
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