[snip]
Authorities identified Rinderknecht as a person of interest soon after the blaze began, the complaint says. Surveillance footage placed him and his vehicle near the trailhead where a small brush fire was reported on Jan. 1, prosecutors say. Officials allege the initial blaze, which crews tamped down, smoldered and later re-ignited, ultimately exploding into the Palisades inferno that destroyed thousands of homes and claimed 12 lives. Investigators assert phone records show Rinderknecht — and no one else — was present at the precise location where the fire started.
Rinderknecht, who had lived in the area at some point, was arrested in Florida and will be transferred to California to face charges. Federal arson statutes carry severe penalties when a fire causes death or widespread destruction; prosecutors have said the deliberate nature of the suspected act could make the case eligible for the most serious charges.
[snip]
Rinderknecht also reportedly donated $2 to President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, a detail included in court filings but not tied to the alleged arson.
The Palisades Fire came amid a broader, deadly wildfire episode in Southern California that included the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena and Altadena, which killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of structures. Authorities have not announced any arrests connected to the Eaton Fire, which remains under separate investigation.
* Original Article:
Palisades Fire Suspect Allegedly Burned Bible, Said It Made Him Feel ‘Liberated,’ Investigators Say
