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Dave Rothenberg, Whose Father Set Him on Fire in 1983, Dies at 42 David Rothenberg, Whose Father Set Him on Fire in 1983, Dies at 42
(about 2 hours later)
David Rothenberg, an artist from Las Vegas, known as Dave Dave, who was badly scarred as a boy when his father tried to burn him to death, an incident that became the basis of a movie, died on July 15 in Las Vegas. He was 42.David Rothenberg, an artist from Las Vegas, known as Dave Dave, who was badly scarred as a boy when his father tried to burn him to death, an incident that became the basis of a movie, died on July 15 in Las Vegas. He was 42.
The cause was being investigated by the police, said John Fudenberg, a coroner in Clark County, Nev. The death was not widely reported at the time.The cause was being investigated by the police, said John Fudenberg, a coroner in Clark County, Nev. The death was not widely reported at the time.
Years after the burning, Mr. Rothenberg became a close friend of Michael Jackson, who encouraged him to pursue a career in art. Through brightly colored 1960s-style Pop Art paintings and drawings, he sought to promote positivity, he wrote on his website, particularly through a series called “Lifted.”Years after the burning, Mr. Rothenberg became a close friend of Michael Jackson, who encouraged him to pursue a career in art. Through brightly colored 1960s-style Pop Art paintings and drawings, he sought to promote positivity, he wrote on his website, particularly through a series called “Lifted.”
“There is a lot that happens in people’s lives, but that doesn’t define them as a human being, it makes them stronger,” Mr. Rothenberg told The Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2016.“There is a lot that happens in people’s lives, but that doesn’t define them as a human being, it makes them stronger,” Mr. Rothenberg told The Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2016.
He was 6 in 1983 when his father gave him a sleeping pill in a motel room in Buena Park, Calif., near Disneyland, and then doused his bed with kerosene and set it on fire. The attack left burns on more than 90 percent of David’s body. His father, who was said to be in a bitter custody fight with his wife, Marie, then fled.He was 6 in 1983 when his father gave him a sleeping pill in a motel room in Buena Park, Calif., near Disneyland, and then doused his bed with kerosene and set it on fire. The attack left burns on more than 90 percent of David’s body. His father, who was said to be in a bitter custody fight with his wife, Marie, then fled.
“He was working at a restaurant in New York, and he had saved $10,000 for this trip to California,” Mr. Rothenberg told The Review-Journal. “On the trip, he was planning to kill me.”“He was working at a restaurant in New York, and he had saved $10,000 for this trip to California,” Mr. Rothenberg told The Review-Journal. “On the trip, he was planning to kill me.”
Despite a childhood of healing and skin grafts, Mr. Rothenberg remained disfigured.Despite a childhood of healing and skin grafts, Mr. Rothenberg remained disfigured.
His recuperation and survival became the subject of “David,” a 1988 made-for-television movie.His recuperation and survival became the subject of “David,” a 1988 made-for-television movie.
“‘David’ can indeed be painful at certain moments but, in the end, its message about going beyond surface appearances comes through admirably,” John J. O’Connor wrote in a New York Times review.“‘David’ can indeed be painful at certain moments but, in the end, its message about going beyond surface appearances comes through admirably,” John J. O’Connor wrote in a New York Times review.
It was not until Mr. Rothenberg was 19 that he faced his father in prison for the first time since the attack.It was not until Mr. Rothenberg was 19 that he faced his father in prison for the first time since the attack.
“It was very cathartic to be able to look my dad in the face and tell him exactly what was on my mind,” he said. “A lot of people don’t get a chance to do that, to face the person who hurt them.”“It was very cathartic to be able to look my dad in the face and tell him exactly what was on my mind,” he said. “A lot of people don’t get a chance to do that, to face the person who hurt them.”
His father, Charles Rothenberg, spent less than seven years of a 13-year sentence in prison for attempted murder. His criminal record grew, with charges of robbery and other crimes. In 2007, he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in California.His father, Charles Rothenberg, spent less than seven years of a 13-year sentence in prison for attempted murder. His criminal record grew, with charges of robbery and other crimes. In 2007, he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in California.