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California wildfire suspect arrested in Central Florida
Federal agents arrested a 29-year-old man in Central Florida accused of sparking the deadliest wildfire in Los Angeles history. The Palisades Fire killed 12 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and scorched more than 23,000 acres.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A Florida man has been arrested in connection to the deadly Palisades Fire that broke out in January in Los Angeles, California, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Here's everything we know about the suspect, 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht.
Who is Jonathan Rinderknecht?
What we know:
Rinderknecht, also known as "Jonathan Rinder," and "Jon Rinder," was arrested on Tuesday near his home in Melbourne, Florida, officials said.
He is originally from Indiana and has a high school diploma.
Investigators said he was previously a resident of Palisades and was familiar with the neighborhood he is accused of starting the fire in. Officials say he later moved to Florida after starting the fire.
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Authorities said Rinderknecht started the fire after he finished his shift as an Uber driver. Videos of the fire taken on his cellphone and 911 calls were among the evidence connecting Rinderknecht to the fire, officials said.
Jonathan Rinderknecht (Credit: U.S. Department of Justice)
Rinderknecht appeared in court Wednesday afternoon in Orlando. During the hearing, he acknowledged that he understood the charge against him.
Rinderknecht is facing federal criminal charges related to the fire. If convicted, Rinderknecht would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
What's next:
Rinderknecht will next appear in court Thursday morning in Orlando. Bond could be discussed at this hearing.
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Officials said he will be transferred back to the Central District of California to stand trial.
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Officials: Florida man charged with starting deadly Palisades fire
A Florida man has been arrested, accused of starting what would become the deadly "Palisades Fire" in Los Angeles. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was arrested on Oct. 7 near his home in Melbourne, Florida, officials said. He's accused of maliciously starting a fire on Jan. 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades Fire, killing 12 and burning more than 23,000 acres.
What is the Palisades Fire?
The backstory:
The Palisades Fire was the most destructive fire in the city's history. It killed 12 people, burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed more than 6,000 structures, officials said.
The fire was first reported on Jan. 7, 2025 in Palisades Highlands, an LA-area neighborhood.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the U.S. Department of Justice in a press release and at a press conference on Oct. 8, 2025.