Man accused of starting Palisades fire was ‘angry, intense, driving erratically’, lawyers say
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, has pleaded not guilty to starting the Palisades fire on 1 January 2025, which later flared up and became one of California's most destructive wildfires, killing 12 people.
- Prosecutors allege Rinderknecht was angry over a failed relationship and lack of New Year's Eve plans, and had ranted about being "pissed off at the world" before igniting the initial fire.
- Witnesses described Rinderknecht as driving erratically and expressing resentment toward the wealthy, linking his alleged motive to social and economic grievances.
- Rinderknecht’s defense argues he is a scapegoat for the fire department’s failure to fully extinguish the blaze, citing firefighter testimonies about smoldering hotspots and an ongoing independent review of the fire department’s handling.
- The trial is set to begin on 8 June, with the defense maintaining Rinderknecht’s innocence and highlighting new evidence not available at the time of indictment.
