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Los Angeles, CA - A 29-year-old Florida man has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly starting a small fire that later grew into the deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles earlier this year.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, a former Pacific Palisades resident now living in Florida, is accused of igniting a brush fire near the Skull Rock hiking trail at approximately 12:12 a.m. on January 1st, shortly after completing an Uber ride in the area.
Authorities said the initial fire was extinguished but smoldered underground for several days before high winds rekindled it, spreading rapidly into the Palisades Fire.
The wildfire destroyed more than 6,800 homes and businesses, killed 12 people, and caused widespread damage across the region.
Federal investigators allege Rinderknecht was influenced by fire-related imagery in the days leading up to the incident.
Court documents show he repeatedly viewed a French rap music video depicting arson and used an AI tool to generate a dystopian image of a burning city.
He also allegedly made inquiries about the legal consequences of causing a fire.
Rinderknecht was interviewed shortly after the fire but allegedly gave misleading information about his location and actions.
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Investigators later recovered videos from his devices showing the fire and his attempts to report it.
He reportedly brought a lighter to the scene, which was later found in his vehicle.
Rinderknecht faces federal charges including destruction of property by means of fire, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 20 years if convicted.
He is awaiting extradition to California to face trial.
Federal authorities continue to review the case, and additional charges may be filed.