Man accused of starting Palisades fire was ‘angry, intense, driving erratically’, lawyers say
May 05, 2026
Jonathan Rinderknecht’s attorneys say he’s being used as scapegoat for Los Angeles fire department’s failure to fully extinguish earlier blazeSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe man accused of sparking the deadly Palisades fire in Los Angeles was up
set over a failed relationship and his lack of plans for New Year’s Eve – and he ranted about being angry at the world before the initial blaze was ignited, according to court documents filed by prosecutors.Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, has pleaded not guilty to starting what became one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. It began on 7 January 2025 in the hillside neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Malibu and killed 12 people. Prosecutors say Rinderknecht started a fire on 1 January that burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up a week later. Continue reading...
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