Uber driver charged in connection with starting the Palisades Fire
By Jacob Margolis
Published Oct 8, 2025 9:07 AM
laist.com
Jonathan Rinderknecht is a 29-year-old Florida man arrested on suspicion of malicious arson in connection with the deadly Palisades Fire that destroyed thousands of homes in Los Angeles in January 2025. Federal authorities described his actions and behavior as "typical firebug behavior" and used the term "alleged pyromaniac" in reports about his activity leading up to the blaze.
Key details from the federal criminal complaint reveal a possible fascination with fire leading up to the incident:
- The fire: According to the complaint, Rinderknecht deliberately started a smaller brush fire, known as the Lachman Fire, near a Pacific Palisades hiking trail on New Year's Day. Though firefighters contained the initial blaze, embers smoldered underground for days before high winds caused them to re-ignite into the far more devastating Palisades Fire on January 7.
- Obsession with fire: Prosecutors highlighted Rinderknecht's digital activity as evidence of his preoccupation with fire. This included:
- ChatGPT searches: Months before the fire, he used ChatGPT to create a "dystopian" image of a burning forest and a crowd of people fleeing. He also reportedly asked the AI, "Are you at fault if a fire is lift [sic] because of your cigarettes?" after starting the fire.
- Rap video: Before and during the incident, he repeatedly listened to a French rap song by the artist Josman whose music video features the artist setting objects on fire. The song's lyrics describe "despair and bitterness".
- Confession of setting fire: According to the complaint, Rinderknecht told ChatGPT in a separate conversation that he "literally burnt a bible" and that it felt "amazing" and "so liberated".
- Actions during the fire: After allegedly starting the fire, Rinderknecht returned to watch firefighters battling the blaze and recorded them on his phone. He also called 911, but phone data shows he was much closer to the fire's origin than he later told investigators. An investigator wrote that Rinderknecht's decision to watch the fire, lie about his location, and film the response is "consistent with arson".
Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida in October 2025 and is facing federal charges, including "destruction of property by means of fire," which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years. |
