BREAKING: Melbourne Man Arrested in Connection with Deadly Palisades Fire in California

By Space Coast Daily // October 8, 2025

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, accused of setting the Palisades Fire that Killed 12 people

Jonathan Rinderknecht was taken into custody Tuesday morning at his home in Melbourne by federal agents – See the Federal criminal complaint HERE.

Federal authorities announced the arrest of Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old Melbourne, Florida resident, who is accused of deliberately setting the devastating Palisades Fire that swept through Los Angeles earlier this year, killing 12 people and destroying thousands of structures.

Rinderknecht was taken into custody Tuesday morning at his home in Melbourne by federal agents. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Orlando on Wednesday.

Prosecutors allege he ignited what was initially called the Lachman Fire shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day — a blaze that smoldered underground and later reignited as the Palisades Fire, one of the deadliest wildfires in California’s history.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Rinderknecht, who worked as an Uber driver, had just completed a passenger drop-off in the Pacific Palisades area when he allegedly used an open flame to start the initial fire.

Investigators say two passengers described him as appearing “angry and agitated” during the ride that preceded the incident.

Officials also stated that Rinderknecht, who previously lived in the Palisades area, was familiar with the terrain and neighborhood where the blaze began.

The complaint further alleges that Rinderknecht mentioned having grown up in France and frequently played French rap songs during his rides, including one whose video features imagery of fire.

Prosecutors revealed that digital evidence recovered from his devices included the use of ChatGPT to create images depicting a dystopian city engulfed in flames — imagery investigators say reflects a fascination with destruction.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Rinderknecht faces a federal charge of destruction of property by means of fire, a serious felony carrying a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of 20 years.

The Palisades Fire, which ignited in January 2025 amid powerful winds, spread rapidly through Pacific Palisades and into Malibu. The inferno claimed a dozen lives, destroyed or damaged more than 6,800 buildings, and left entire neighborhoods in ruins. Months later, many residents are still struggling to rebuild.

Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing as they continue to piece together Rinderknecht’s movements and potential motives in the days leading up to the fire.