An attorney who represented O.J. Simpson emphasizes that the timeline of events will be critical in proving the innocence of the suspect in the Palisades wildfire investigation.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was taken into custody in Florida and is facing charges related to property destruction by fire. Authorities reported that Rinderknecht previously lived in the Pacific Palisades area.

“The focus of analysis includes excluding possible causes like a cigarette or lightning, especially since there was no evidence of lightning in a 20-mile radius for 30 days prior to the Palisades Fire,” Carl Douglas explained to Ashleigh Banfield.

Rinderknecht has been accused of igniting the “Lachman Fire,” which began on New Year’s Day, as per a criminal complaint. Allegations state that Rinderknecht later hiked up a trail and recorded videos of the fire region.

Douglas noted that there’s significant circumstantial evidence linking Rinderknecht to the Lachman Fire. He highlighted that during a January 24 interview with investigators, Rinderknecht provided inconsistent accounts.

“Investigators spoke with his former customers, Uber passengers from that night, who recalled him being agitated and angry as they drove him close to the fire site,” Douglas mentioned.

“They interviewed a former roommate who lived in the area. There’s that six-day gap that I’m sure his lawyers are going to focus on.”

“There’s no suggestion that he was anywhere near the area of the Palisades fire where it started.”

Experts will battle over connecting suspect to both fires: Douglas

Douglas believes it will be a scientific battle to connect Rinderknecht to the Lachman and Palisades fires.

“They have him 64 different ways,” he said. “But to connect that with the start of the Palisades fire, I think is going to be the true challenge for the prosecution in that eventual case.”

Asked if there’s a causation issue to be questioned, Douglas said, “That the roots kept burning and started the Palisades Fire is just a bridge too far. That is one speculation as to the cause. They now believe that the Palisades Fire is what’s called a holdover fire. The Lachman Fire was put out quite quickly. And in fact, the fire department left their hoses there in the area because oftentimes embers burn and simmer under roots.”

Palisades Fire suspect’s behavior typical of arsonist: Panel

Rick Crawford, a former battalion chief for the Los Angeles Fire Department, and Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor for the Southern District of California, told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” that Rinderknecht showed signs of “typical firebug behavior.”

“An arson investigator … what they do is they look at the behavior of a person like this individual,” Crawford said.

“And what happens is they like to watch their work. Lots of times, they want to help put the fire out. They’ve had an interest in being a firefighter at some point, and not able to quite make it there,” Crawford added.

Crawford also said technology played a pivotal part in the investigation: “Things like being able to geolocate (Rinderknecht), infrared drones to map the fire’s perimeter and capture the hot spots in real time. It shows technology is one of our best witnesses.”