finance
Palisades Fire Arson Suspect Compared Act to UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Prosecutors Say
Prosecutors allege that Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of starting a fire that killed 12 people in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, expressed resentment toward the wealthy and referenced Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing. Court documents detail his erratic behavior on New Year's Eve before the January 1, 2025, fire ignited.
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Prosecutors in Los Angeles filed court documents alleging that Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, compared starting the Palisades Fire to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. According to the documents, Rinderknecht told Uber passengers on New Year's Eve that he was "pissed off at the world," drove erratically, and referenced Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the CEO's killing.
The Washington Times reported that Rinderknecht aligned himself with the suspected "vigilante" assassin and compared torching the neighborhood to the shooting. Fortune reported that he ranted about Luigi Mangione and being angry at the world before the deadly blaze.
Just the News reported that the defendant compared the act to the UnitedHealthcare CEO assassination.
The fire began on January 1, 2025, in hillside neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades. Prosecutors say it burned undetected in root systems before flaring up again on January 7, 2025, and ultimately killed 12 people while becoming one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled to begin June 8.
A pretrial memo filed April 29 by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office stated that Rinderknecht was distraught over a failed relationship and had no plans for New Year's Eve. In a January 24 interview with investigators, according to the memo, he suggested the arson in the Palisades could stem from resentment of the rich and again cited Mangione's alleged crime.
Witnesses described him as angry and intense during his Uber shifts.
Rinderknecht's attorney, Steve Haney, said his client maintains his innocence and is looking forward to trial. Haney stated that the prosecution's motive theory centers on Rinderknecht not having a date for New Year's Eve. In a March news conference, Haney called for his client's release based on new evidence.
