A former Pacific Palisades resident is under arrest, accused of starting one of the deadliest and most destructive fires in Los Angeles history.
Federal prosecutors say 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, now living in Florida, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with destruction of property by means of fire. Investigators believe he deliberately set a small blaze near Skull Rock Trailhead just after midnight on New Year’s Day 2025—a fire that smoldered unseen for days before exploding into the catastrophic Palisades Fire a week later.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Rinderknecht, who once lived in the neighborhood and was working as an Uber driver, drove to the Hidden Buddha clearing, listened to music with fire imagery, and ignited vegetation with an open flame. Evidence includes cell phone data, witness accounts, video recordings, and what investigators describe as AI-generated images of burning cities created using ChatGPT.
Firefighters initially believed the smaller “Lachman Fire” was extinguished, but strong Santa Ana winds reignited it on January 7, destroying 6,800 structures, killing 12 people, and scorching 23,000 acres.
Prosecutors allege that Rinderknecht lied to investigators about his whereabouts that night. Location data placed him within 30 feet of the ignition point as the fire grew.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison, with additional charges possible once a grand jury reviews the case.
Local and state officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, and Governor Gavin Newsom, praised the arrest as a critical step toward justice and closure for victims.
The Palisades Fire, along with the nearby Eaton Fire in Altadena, killed at least 30 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures across Southern California.
Recent Comments