A federal judge declared a mistrial Friday in the arson case against the man accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles after the jury reported it could not agree on a verdict. Prosecutors stated they intend to retry the case.
Jurors had indicated a standstill in deliberations on Thursday in the trial of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who faced three federal charges: arson, malicious destruction by means of a fire, and timber set aflame. "The court finds there is a manifest necessity to declare a mistrial because the jury is deadlocked," stated Judge Anne Hwang, noting that 10 jurors favored a not-guilty verdict while two remained determined to convict. The jury's note to the court detailed that "We have people on both sides that are dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion" and that they were split on all three charges.
Prosecutors assert that Rinderknecht started a fire on Jan. 1, 2025, which burned undetected in root systems before flaring up on Jan. 7. The Palisades Fire ultimately resulted in 12 fatalities and destroyed thousands of homes as it consumed hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu. Rebuilding efforts have been slow, with only 17 homes certified for occupancy in Pacific Palisades.
Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty to starting the fire. His trial began on June 8 and included eight days of testimony from investigators, experts, and witnesses. Jurors deliberated for 13 hours over two days before concluding they could not reach a unanimous decision.
Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting the fire originated at the Hidden Buddha clearing, accessible via a neighborhood trail. Security camera footage was used to establish the suspected starting point. Rinderknecht, who was driving for Uber, dropped off his last passenger in the same neighborhood shortly before midnight on New Year's Eve 2024. Geolocation data from his phone indicated he was at the clearing and walked down the trail while reporting the fire, stating he did not see or hear anyone else.
Digital records from Rinderknecht's phone, email, Uber, OpenAI, and social media accounts were introduced by prosecutors to establish his state of mind. Thousands of conversations between Rinderknecht and ChatGPT, which he reportedly used as a personal diary, were reviewed. In one exchange, he asked, "Why am I so angry all the time?" He expressed frustration over wealth disparity and climate change, lamenting his perceived inability to effect change. He also made searches related to a murder suspect and on Reddit searched "lets kill all the billionaires." Further searches included the address of a CEO and inquiries about surveillance cameras at his home. He also reportedly sent angry messages to a woman who declined his New Year's Eve invitation.
While firefighters responded to the blaze, Rinderknecht followed them and recorded videos. He also asked ChatGPT whether someone would be held responsible for a fire accidentally started by a cigarette. Prosecutors presented screen recordings of his 911 calls and ChatGPT prompts as evidence of an attempt to mislead investigators. A selfie video recorded on January 6, the day before strong winds reignited smoldering embers, included Rinderknecht stating he was having a mental breakdown.
In a recorded interview with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in late January, before he was a suspect, Rinderknecht spoke with ATF agent Matthew Beals for approximately 8 hours. During the interview, which included a visit to the fire site, Rinderknecht's account conflicted with his phone's geolocation data and the timing of his 911 calls, according to Beals' testimony. Beals also testified that Rinderknecht became agitated when asked about fire details and repeatedly voiced dismay about political affairs. Rinderknecht was recorded speculating that someone might start a fire in the Palisades out of frustration about inequality, stating, "If people are specifically targeting this area, I’m thinking it’s probably because they’re like, ‘Oh, do people think they can have their own little road up here in paradise and just, you know, be here with their money while we’re basically being slaves for them?’" An arson behavioral expert testified that Rinderknecht's behavior was consistent with a "revenge, or societal revenge motivated" arsonist.
The defense argued that fireworks could not be ruled out as the cause of the fire. A firefighter testified to hearing fireworks in the area around midnight on New Year's Eve. The defense called residents and a security guard who reported seeing flashes of light or hearing fireworks, with two witnessing a group of teenagers running down a trail afterward. Two expert witnesses for the defense cast doubt on the federal investigation, suggesting the fire scene was unsecured for 13 days and could have been compromised. They testified that fireworks were the most likely cause. A former fire investigator accused government investigators of confirmation bias. The defense also pointed out that investigators found no searches about arson or purchases of fire-starting materials, although Rinderknecht's DNA was found on a barbecue lighter in his car. The defense argued that Rinderknecht calling 911 multiple times and remaining at the scene demonstrated his innocence, stating, "No arsonist sets a fire and calls 911 for them to put it out ... and then waits around to be arrested."
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that prosecutors "fully intend to retry this case before a new jury and obtain guilty verdicts on all charged counts." He added, "The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire."