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An arrest has been made in connection to the arson that incinerated the Palisades earlier this year, leading to the deaths of 12 individuals, obliterating more than 6,800 structures including homes and businesses, and damaging an additional 1,000 buildings.
Following the drop-off of an Uber passenger in Pacific Palisades, 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknech parked his vehicle and attempted unsuccessfully to contact a former acquaintance. Exiting his car, he ventured up a nearby trail, taking videos with his iPhone while listening to a rap song, the music video of which features items being set ablaze.
Subsequently, twelve minutes into the new year, a fire was ignited. Facing weak cellphone reception, Rinderknecht returned down the trail, repeatedly trying to reach 911 until he finally managed a connection, only to discover that other residents had already reported the fire.
As Rinderknecht drove away, he encountered firefighters and turned back to observe them in action. He filmed as firefighters hurriedly extinguished the flames, or so they assumed.
The dense vegetation obscured visibility, while roots beneath the soil continued to burn. A week following the 911 alerts concerning the Lachman fire, the Santa Ana Winds ignited a massive, lethal blaze, causing the remnants of the Lachman fire to spread across Los Angeles, newly dubbed the Palisades fire.
Investigators question Rinderknecht as he repeatedly called 911 about the January 1st fire.
During those calls, Rinderknecht asked ChatGPT, “Are you at fault if a fire is lit because of your cigarettes?”
Rinderknecht gave inconsistent accounts regarding smoking near the trail that night and his whereabouts during the call. While he claimed he was at the trail’s base, location data revealed he was just 30 feet away from where the fire originated while speaking with 911.
Ultimately, Rinderknecht is charged.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Additional Guests
- Stephanie Lydecker – Executive Producer & Host of True Crime Tonight; Founder & CEO of KT-Studios.com
- Alexandra Pfeifer – Victim
- Dina Doll – Attorney, Trial Consultant, Mediator & Legal Analyst, Doll Amir Eley, LLP
- Nicholle Brock – Firefighter, EMT, and Arson Expert
- Shannon Butler – Investigative Reporter at WFTV Channel 9, Florida
- Sydney Sumner – Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: FILE – The devastation from the Palisades Fire is seen in an aerial view in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File). Inset: Jonathan Rinderknecht/US Department of Justice]
