A mistrial was declared Friday in the Los Angeles federal court trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, who is accused of sparking the deadly Palisades Fire.
Jurors informed the court they could not reach a unanimous decision, leading to the mistrial. The jury had initially indicated they had reached a decision on Thursday afternoon, but later reported being at a standstill.
Rinderknecht faces three felony counts: destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. These charges are linked to the Lachman Fire, a blaze ignited on New Year's Day 2025 that reignited a week later as the Palisades Fire.
Prosecutors presented evidence including text messages Rinderknecht allegedly sent to a girlfriend, conversations with ChatGPT used as a journal, and a French rap music video he frequently played. They also pointed to cellphone records and surveillance video placing him near the origin of the initial 9-acre fire. Investigators testified that Rinderknecht called 911 multiple times shortly after the blaze began and screen-recorded the call, asking ChatGPT if he was at fault if a fire was lit because of his cigarettes. An investigator suggested this was an attempt to create an alternative reason for the fire's start.
Prosecutors stated Rinderknecht lit the fire on a hiking trail using a green Bic lighter found in his car weeks later. The government also highlighted Rinderknecht's alleged obsession with Luigi Mangione, a man on trial for murder, and searches related to "free Luigi Mangione" and "lets take down all the billionaires." An Uber passenger testified that Rinderknecht expressed support for Mangione the night the blaze broke out. A federal agent also testified that Rinderknecht had searched for the address of DoorDash's CEO, with plans to murder him.
The Palisades Fire ultimately destroyed approximately 7,000 homes and businesses, caused an estimated $150 billion in damages, and resulted in 12 fatalities.
During the trial, Rinderknecht's defense attorney, Steve Haney, argued that prosecutors failed to prove his client started the fire, calling the evidence circumstantial. Haney insisted his client was a victim of "character assassination."
Rinderknecht's father, Joel, attended the trial daily and maintained his son's innocence. Rinderknecht was actively involved in the jury selection process, assisting his attorney.