Topeka police seek man suspected of lighting girl’s hair on fire

TOPEKA – Topeka police are searching for a man suspected of lighting a 6-year-old girl’s hair on fire while she was outside in her backyard.

The child’s uncle, George Hearne, tells WIBW-TV that she suffered third-degree burns to her head and first- and second-degree burns to her hands in the Wednesday incident.

Hearne says his niece and 5-year-old nephew were playing in the backyard when the boy rushed inside, saying his sister’s head was on fire.

The boy says a man came up to the fence and grabbed a cigarette out of his pocket, lighting it by his sister’s hair. He says the man ran away after the girl’s hair caught on fire.

Hearne says Topeka officers found a lighter by the fence.

An investigation is ongoing.

This story was originally published January 30, 2015 at 6:53 AM with the headline "Topeka police seek man suspected of lighting girl’s hair on fire."