Man who doused girlfriend's daughters appears in court

PEMBROKE, Mass. (WHDH) -- A Pembroke man appeared in Plymouth District Court Thursday following a standoff with police Wednesday night when he allegedly doused his girlfriend’s daughters in gasoline.

William Rearick, 44, who is deaf, appeared in court, facing charges that included two counts of assault with intent to murder. The victims in this case are Rearick’s girlfriends' two daughters. Police said their clothing was doused with gasoline.

“It was a male family member that poured gasoline over the house and was threatening to burn the house,” said Chief Richard Wall, Pembroke Police Department.

Police were called to 39 Birch Street late Wednesday afternoon. The suspect who lived at his girlfriend’s house with her two kids showed up with a can of gasoline, a lighter, and a propane tank. After struggling with the girls who were able get away and call 9-1-1, he barricaded himself in a basement bedroom and made threats to blow up the entire house.

Homes in the area were evacuated before police were able to take Rearick into custody.

The sisters were treated for non-life threatening injuries. Prosecutors aren’t commenting in court on a motive but most on Birch Street are just thankful police were able to diffuse a dangerous situation.

“It’s a frantic situation as you said. The officers were very well restrained. The fire department evacuated the area and was there and again, through some negotiation were able to come to a peaceful end,” said Wall.

Rearick is currently behind bars and was ordered to have a psych evaluation. He will return to court for a dangerousness hearing next month.