A federal judge declared a mistrial Friday in the case of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, who was accused of igniting the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on any of the three federal charges: arson, malicious destruction by means of a fire, and timber set aflame.
Judge Anne Hwang announced the mistrial after jurors deliberated for 13 hours over two days, reporting that they were deadlocked. Ten jurors favored a not-guilty verdict, while two were determined to convict. "The court finds there is a manifest necessity to declare a mistrial because the jury is deadlocked," Hwang stated. The jury indicated that nothing the court could do would help them reach a consensus. Prosecutors had requested the jury deliberate longer, but the judge expressed concern about the risk of coercion given the jury's apparent finality.
Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty to starting the fire, which became one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. His defense attorney, Steve Haney, described the jury's vote count as a "pretty resounding indication" of his client's innocence.
The Palisades Fire, which began on January 1, 2025, ultimately resulted in 12 fatalities and the destruction of thousands of homes in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas. Rebuilding efforts have been slow, with only 17 homes certified for occupancy in Pacific Palisades.
Prosecutors alleged that Rinderknecht started a fire on January 1 that smoldered before flaring up on January 7. Evidence presented during the trial included security camera footage suggesting the fire originated at the Hidden Buddha clearing, accessible via a neighborhood trail. Rinderknecht, who was working as an Uber driver that night, dropped off his last passenger shortly before midnight in the same neighborhood. He made over a dozen 911 calls that night, and his phone's geolocation data placed him at the clearing, walking down the trail as he reported the fire. Prosecutors noted that Rinderknecht admitted he did not see or hear anyone else in the vicinity.
Prosecutors also introduced digital records from Rinderknecht's phone, email, Uber, OpenAI, and social media accounts. Investigators reviewed numerous conversations between Rinderknecht and ChatGPT, which he reportedly used as a personal diary. In these exchanges, he expressed anger, lamented wealth disparity and climate change, and made searches related to an accused killer and the CEO of DoorDash, including inquiries about the CEO's children and home surveillance. The court also heard that Rinderknecht sent angry messages to a woman who rejected his New Year's Eve plans.
Further evidence presented by the prosecution included Rinderknecht following firefighters responding to the blaze and recording videos. He also asked ChatGPT if someone would be held responsible for a fire accidentally started by a cigarette and screen-recorded this interaction and his 911 calls, which prosecutors argued was an attempt to mislead investigators. A selfie video recorded on January 6, the day before strong winds reignited smoldering embers, showed Rinderknecht stating he was having a mental breakdown.
An ATF agent testified that Rinderknecht's account of his movements conflicted with his phone's geolocation data and the timing of his 911 calls. The agent also stated Rinderknecht became agitated when questioned about fire details, accused the agent of interrogating him, and expressed dismay about political affairs, speculating hypothetically about someone starting a fire out of frustration over inequality.
An arson behavioral expert testified that Rinderknecht's behavior was consistent with a "revenge, or societal revenge motivated" arsonist. However, the defense argued that fireworks were the most likely cause of the fire. Witnesses, including firefighters and residents, reported hearing fireworks around midnight on New Year's Eve, and some saw a group of teenagers running from the trail afterward. Defense experts also raised doubts about the federal investigation, citing the 13-day unsecured scene and suggesting confirmation bias by investigators. They maintained that fireworks were the most probable cause. The defense highlighted that investigators found no searches for arson techniques or purchases of fire-starting materials, and while Rinderknecht's DNA was found on a lighter in his car, it could not be proven that it sparked the blaze. Haney argued that Rinderknecht's repeated 911 calls and presence 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."
It remains unclear if federal prosecutors will seek to retry the case.