Jonathan Rinderknecht was indicted on federal criminal charges in October 2025
Credit: Bill Essayli, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California/X; XNY/Star Max/GC Images
NEED TO KNOW
- Prosecutors allege Jonathan Rinderknecht started California’s deadly Palisades Fire after becoming angry with his life and society, according to a new court filing
- Rinderknecht, now 30, was allegedly “fixated” on Luigi Mangione and searched online for content related to anti-wealth sentiments, per the trial memo filed on April 29 and obtained by PEOPLE
- He faces federal arson charges and has pleaded not guilty; his trial is set to begin on June 8
The former Uber driver accused by prosecutors of starting California’s deadly Palisades Fire was allegedly “fixated” on murder suspect Luigi Mangione and harbored a deep resentment toward the wealthy, according to a new court filing.
Prosecutors allege that on Jan. 1, 2025, Jonathan Rinderknecht, now 30, used a lighter to ignite combustible material. The blaze grew into what became known as the Lachman and subsequently Palisades Fires, which destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in Los Angeles’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
In the trial memo dated April 29 and obtained by PEOPLE, prosecutors described Rinderknecht’s apparent state of mind, alleging he was upset over a relationship with a former co-worker and disappointed about not having any "companionship" on New Year’s Eve.
Credit: Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/ Los Angeles Daily News via Getty
“In the months leading up to the fire he had become increasingly angry with his life and society at large,” prosecutors claimed in the filing.
He was also allegedly “fixated” on Mangione, who is charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024, the memo states. Prosecutors noted that the case drew strong public reactions, with some people portraying Mangione as a “modern-day Robin Hood” and viewing his actions as a response to corporate greed.
According to the filing, Rinderknecht searched online in December 2024 for news related to Mangione, including the terms “free Luigi Mangione,” “lets take down all the billionaires,” and “reddit lets kill all the billionaires.” On Jan. 3, 2025, he also allegedly took a screenshot of an article about Mangione pleading not guilty.
Rinderknecht had also been working as an Uber driver on Dec. 31, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2025, prosecutors said. Passengers who later spoke with authorities allegedly recalled him being “angry, intense, driving erratically, and ranting about being ‘pissed off at the world’ and Luigi Mangione, capitalism, and vigilantism,” the memo states.
When later questioned by investigators about why someone might commit arson in the Pacific Palisades, he allegedly responded that it would be out of “resentment of the rich enjoying their money as ‘we’re basically being enslaved by them’ and compared such an act of ‘desperation’ to the murder for which Mangione was charged,” according to the memo.
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In October 2025, Rinderknecht was indicted on federal criminal charges, including one count of destruction of property by means of fire, one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and one count of timber set afire in connection with the case, the Department of Justice announced.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, the Associated Press reported.
“My client maintains his innocence as he has from the beginning and we look forward to clearing his name at trial,” Rinderknecht’s attorney Steve Haney recently told the outlet.
Rinderknecht’s trial is set to begin on June 8. Prosecutors said in the memo that the trial is expected to last 7 to 10 days and they plan to call 40 to 50 witnesses.
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