Federal prosecutors have arrested Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, accused of igniting the Palisades Fire in January, one of Los Angeles’ deadliest wildfires. The blaze resulted in 12 fatalities, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, and scorched over 23,000 acres before containment. Rinderknecht allegedly started a smaller fire on New Year’s Day 2025, which later escalated due to strong winds. Evidence includes his AI-related activities, such as prompts to ChatGPT requesting a dystopian image depicting destruction and suffering. Investigators highlighted a specific exchange where he stated that burning a Bible felt “amazing” and “liberating.” Rinderknecht, an Uber driver, reportedly exhibited erratic behavior during his last shift and monitored firefighters responding to the blaze. Rinderknecht is currently detained in Florida and will be extradited to California to face charges, as authorities seek justice for the devastation caused by his alleged reckless actions.
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