Jonathan Rinderknecht faces federal arson charges for allegedly starting the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of acres in California.
Authorities have arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, accusing him of purposefully igniting a New Year’s Day fire that smoldered for days and later exploded into the deadly Palisades Fire that devastated California.
Rinderknecht, 29, of Melbourne, Florida, was arrested Tuesday on a federal charge of destruction of property by means of fire, Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli announced during a Wednesday morning news conference. He was due to make his initial appearance in federal court in Florida on Wednesday.
« The complaint alleges that a single person’s recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen, resulting in death and widespread destruction in Pacific Palisades », Essayli said. « While we cannot bring back what victims lost, we hope this criminal case brings some measure of justice to those affected by this horrific tragedy. »
Essayli said there is evidence from Rinderknecht’s cell phone, false statements to law enforcement and his behavior following a separate fire that broke out shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day that led to his arrest.
Justice department officials said evidence collected from the suspect’s digital devices showed an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a dystopian burning city. The Palisades fire destroyed tens of thousands of acres throughout the region, leaving many residents displaced, and claimed the lives of 12 people.
