Prosecutors cast Palisades arson suspect as dejected loner, angry at society

Assistant US Attorney Matthew O'Brien, one of the prosecutors, gives his opening statement. (Illustration via Reuters: Mona Edwards)

Prosecutors have accused Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, of lighting a fire in the Los Angeles hills while he was feeling lonely and dejected after a break-up.

Their case centres on proving the blaze allegedly lit by Mr Rinderknecht, who has pleaded not guilty, later grew into the Palisades wildfire that killed 12 people and destroyed up to $73 billion worth of property.

Mr Rinderknecht is facing a sentence of up to 45 years in prison if he is convicted of all three charges levelled against him.

A federal prosecutor has told jurors in the US that 30-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht was feeling lonely and dejected over a break-up when he allegedly lit a wildfire in January 2025 that grew into one of the deadliest and most destructive in Los Angeles history.

The lawyer representing the former Uber driver countered that the hilltop New Year's Day blaze was triggered by fireworks, not his client, and that the massive Palisades inferno that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes a week later was a separate fire set by others.

The opposing accounts were presented to a US District Court jury on Wednesday at the start of a high-profile arson trial stemming from one of the worst wildfire calamities on record anywhere in the country.

Mr Rinderknecht was indicted last October on one felony count each of destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and illegal burning of timber on public lands.

Jonathan Rinderknecht is alleged to have started the Palisades fire while angry over a break-up. (US Attorney's Office via AP)

He is accused of starting a brush fire that was suppressed relatively quickly, but continued to smoulder underground in the roots of dense scrub before reigniting a week later due to fierce winds.

From there, it is alleged to have grown into the conflagration that laid waste to the upscale seaside enclave of Pacific Palisades.

Mr Rinderknecht, who pleaded not guilty and has remained in custody since his arrest in Florida, faces a sentence of five to 45 years in prison if convicted on all three counts.

Assistant US Attorney Mark Williams said security camera footage and location data from Mr Rinderknecht's mobile phone established that he was the only person in the vicinity of the January 1 fire when it erupted.

He added that investigators had ruled out all non-arson ignition sources, including fireworks.

"The evidence will show that the defendant lit th