Man Accused of Starting Palisades Fire Admired Luigi Mangione, Prosecutors Say
Federal prosecutors say the person accused of beginning one of essentially the most damaging fires in California historical past was fascinated by hearth and by Luigi Mangionewho turned a populist hero to some after he was charged with murdering a medical health insurance govt.
Jonathan Rinderknecht30, is accused of deliberately setting a hearth within the Santa Monica Mountains that later exploded into the Palisades hearth, which killed 12 individuals and destroyed hundreds of properties throughout the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles in January final 12 months.
A trial memorandum launched by federal prosecutors final week paints a portrait of Mr. Rinderknecht within the weeks earlier than the fireplace as a lonely and erratic man who was offended on the world, notably the wealthy.
Federal prosecutors say that in December 2024, the month earlier than the fireplace, Mr. Rinderknecht had been dwelling alone in an condominium in North Hollywood and dealing as an Uber driver.
He appeared to have adopted the case of Mr. Mangione, who’s charged with fatally capturing Brian Thompsonthe chief govt of UnitedHealthcare, in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024.
In the wake of the capturing, Mr. Mangione turned a people hero to some individuals, who noticed him as hanging a blow in opposition to the medical health insurance business and its income. (Mr. Mangione is ready to face trial on a second-degree homicide cost in September.)
Mr. Rinderknecht looked for Mangione-related information, utilizing the search phrases “free Luigi Mangione,” “lets take down all the billionaires” and “reddit lets kill all the billionaires,” in accordance with court docket paperwork.
When investigators later requested Mr. Rinderknecht why somebody may commit arson within the Palisades, he mentioned it will be out of resentment of the wealthy, and he in contrast such a hearth to the homicide for which Mr. Mangione was charged. “We’re basically being enslaved by them,” he advised investigators.
Mr. Rinderknecht was arrested in October and has been charged with three arson-related counts. He has pleaded not responsible, and his attorneys preserve that the fireplace was sparked by fireworks. Mr. Rinderknecht is being held on the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. His trial is ready for June.
His lawyer, Steven Haney, pushed again on federal prosecutors’ newest narrative. He mentioned that they have been politicizing the case and providing “wild motives and conspiracy theories.” He mentioned that the give attention to Mr. Mangione revealed a scarcity of concrete proof.
“If fascination with Luigi Mangione is evidence of arson, the US attorney’s office is going to need a much bigger courtroom — because they’ll have to indict half the country,” he mentioned in an electronic mail.
Prosecutors pointed to different elements that may have affected Mr. Rinderknecht’s state of thoughts on New Year’s Eve, simply earlier than prosecutors say the fireplace was set.
Mr. Rinderknecht was unable to safe plans for the night and “exhibited extreme anger, indignation and frustration” about that, in accordance with an affidavit. He was upset about his relationship with a co-worker whom he had dated earlier within the 12 months. He has shared details about his emotions towards her with ChatGPT greater than 50 instances, in accordance with the court docket paperwork.
On Dec. 30, the girl requested Mr. Rinderknecht for area. He then left her “two manic voice mails,” in accordance with the affidavit. He reached out to 2 different individuals to attempt to make alternate plans, however neither got here by.
On New Year’s Eve, he drove a number of Uber passengers, who later recalled that he had been driving erratically, ranting about Mr. Mangione, capitalism and vigilantism. He dropped off his ultimate passenger in Pacific Palisades and hiked up a path, the place he listened to a French rap track about despair. (The music video for the track exhibits the singer lighting issues on hearth, prosecutors notice.)
He was obsessive about hearth, prosecutors say. A number of months earlier than the Palisades hearth, I requested ChatGPT to generate pictures of individuals operating away from a burning forest. On Dec. 5, he considered pictures of a wildfire in Southern California attributable to arson. On Dec. 29, he filmed hearth engines leaving a Hollywood station and mentioned out loud, presumably to himself, “They’re coming for you, bro,” and warned himself to get his thoughts so as and “not be liking this craziness,” in accordance with the court docket paperwork.
Prosecutors say that simply after midnight he lit a hearth within the chaparral, after which repeatedly referred to as 911. He watched as hearth vans arrived and took movies of their efforts. That blaze, referred to as the Lachman hearth, was not absolutely put out; it rekindled amid horrible winds seven days later and have become referred to as the Palisades hearth, prosecutors say.
