Anthony Yates
Authorities have arrested a 29-year-old man from Florida in connection with the deadly Palisades blaze. The fire made headlines in January after 12 people lost their lives.
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What happened: According to a report by The Guardian, police arrested Jonathan Rinderknecht near his Florida home. Acting US attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, made the announcement on October 8.
- Investigators allege that Rinderknecht started the fire just after midnight on New Year’s Day in the Pacific Palisades. The suspect reportedly worked as an Uber driver that night and went to Pacific Palisades after his shift. His previous passengers that evening allegedly told officers he seemed “agitated and angry.”
- The fire reportedly smoldered for days until January 7, when the blaze quickly spread thanks to high winds. Per AP News, more than 30 people died in total from connected fires. The outlet notes that the blaze destroyed over 17,000 homes and buildings.
- Rinderknecht reportedly parked his car and walked up a trail before starting the fire. Prosecutors claim he took videos at a hilltop area and listened to a rap song with a music video depicting objects on fire. He then allegedly left the scene before returning to watch the area burn.
The Suspect Reportedly Recorded Emergency Services Fighting The Fire
A digital paper trail: Per AP News, prosecutors say the 29-year-old fled the area when firefighters arrived. He recorded them tackling the blaze when he returned.
- Rinderknecht reportedly called 911 himself several times to report the fire. Prosecutors claim that he spoke to officers on January 24 and told them where the fire started before it was public knowledge.
- According to The Guardian, investigators found several pieces of digital evidence, including an image generated on ChatGPT months earlier. Essayli described the picture as “A dystopian painting showing in part a burning forest and a crowd fleeing from it.”
- Among other incriminating evidence were the suspect’s 911 calls. Rinderknecht told authorities he was at the bottom of the trail. However, geolocation data showed he was just 30 feet from the fire at the time.
- Per AP News, investigators found a “barbecue-style” lighter in Rinderknecht’s vehicle glove compartment. He faces a five-year mandatory sentence if convicted, according to The Guardian, with a maximum jail term of 20 years.
