A Florida man has been arrested in connection with the deadly Pacific Palisades wildfire that tore through Los Angeles earlier this year, killing 12 people and destroying thousands of homes. Federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday that 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht has been charged with arson and the malicious destruction of property by fire.
Rinderknecht, originally from Los Angeles and a former resident of the Palisades neighborhood, allegedly started the blaze on New Year's Day while visiting California from Florida, informed Los Angeles Times. Authorities say he ignited a brush fire near the Lachman Lane area, which appeared to have been contained but later reignited under strong winds and turned into one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles County history.
According to investigators, the fire smoldered underground for several days, hidden in root systems, before erupting again on January 7 during Santa Ana wind conditions. The fire quickly spread across canyons, destroying more than 6,800 structures and scorching over 23,000 acres. Twelve people died in the fire, including families who had no warning before flames reached their homes.
The investigation into the fire took months and relied heavily on digital evidence. Prosecutors revealed that cellphone data placed Rinderknecht at the origin point of the fire. Surveillance video also reportedly captured him in the area during the early hours of January 1. One piece of evidence includes an AI-generated image of a burning city found on his phone, which prosecutors argue may suggest premeditation.
Rinderknecht is also accused of lying to investigators about when and where he first saw smoke. Officials say his statements did not match GPS and cellphone records, prompting further scrutiny.
The Department of Justice confirmed that Rinderknecht had been working as a rideshare driver at the time and was visiting California over the holidays. He was arrested in Florida and will appear in federal court in Orlando before being transferred to the Central District of California.
If convicted, Rinderknecht faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison. Authorities are not ruling out the possibility of additional charges, especially given the deaths and widespread destruction caused by the fire.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement that while nothing can bring back the lives lost or the homes destroyed, the arrest represents a step toward justice for the victims and their families. The case is being handled by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles, with assistance from local fire and police departments.
As California continues to recover from the damage, the arrest brings national attention to the risks posed by intentional fire-setting and the increasing use of technology in wildfire investigations.
Further updates are expected once court proceedings begin and additional evidence is released to the public.
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