Jury Deliberates in Arson Case Linked to Pacific Palisades Fire

WHO:

CNN - Jonathan Rinderknecht is the suspect accused of starting the Palisades Fire.

CNN - Rinderknecht is 30 years old.

CNN - Prosecutors called more than 30 witnesses during the trial.

CNN - Rinderknecht's defense attorney is Steve Haney.

WHAT:

Deadline - The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht has sent a note indicating they are deadlocked, and the trial continues.

NBC News - LA’s top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, declared he will retry Rinderknecht.

Deadline - The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht sent a subsequent note saying they are deadlocked, and the trial continues.

CNN - The jury reached a verdict in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, which will be read in court shortly.

Deadline - The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht sent a note indicating they are deadlocked.

CNN - The jury reached a verdict in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht.

CNN - The verdict will be read in court shortly.

CNN - Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty to three federal charges: Destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire.

CNN - Prosecutors called more than 30 witnesses over six days, painting Rinderknecht, 30, as a vengeful and angry person who they said ignited a blaze that later erupted into the Palisades Fire.

CNN - Prosecutors contended Rinderknecht was motivated by his desire to seek revenge against society at large, and that he was angry at the wealthy and his inability to find companionship on New Year’s Eve.

CNN - Passengers driven by Rinderknecht – he was working as an Uber driver – testified he ranted about capitalism and was fixated by Luigi Mangione.

CNN - The defense acknowledged Rinderknecht saw flames while he was at the clearing – known as the Hidden Buddha – that night but emphasized he called 911 multiple times, though the calls could not immediately connect.

CNN - Rinderknecht’s attorneys called nine witnesses over about three days, including a consultant and former arson investigator who said there was not enough evidence to illustrate a serious intent to start a fire – and that fireworks were “the most obvious cause” of the blaze.

CNN - Testimony by other eyewitnesses was used to corroborate defense claims that New Year’s revelers were setting off fireworks in the area that night.

Deadline - The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht sent a subsequent note indicating they are deadlocked.

CNN - The jury reached a verdict in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht.

CNN - The verdict will be read in court shortly.

Deadline - The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht has sent a note indicating they are deadlocked, and the trial continues.

CNN - The verdict in Rinderknecht's trial will be read in court shortly.

CNN - A jury reached a verdict in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht.

CNN - Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty to three federal charges: Destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire.

CNN - The Palisades Fire claimed the lives of a dozen people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.

WHERE:

CNN - The fire occurred in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles.

CNN - The fire started on a hillside known as the Hidden Buddha.

WHEN:

CNN - The fire that became the Palisades Fire started on New Year’s Day 2025.

CNN - The fire was reignited on January 7, 2025.

WHY:

CNN - Prosecutors argued Rinderknecht was motivated by a desire for revenge against society and anger at the wealthy.

CNN - Rinderknecht was reportedly frustrated by his inability to find companionship on New Year’s Eve.

HOW:

CNN - Rinderknecht's defense attorney argued that no one saw his client light a fire and contended Rinderknecht had been made a scapegoat.

CNN - Rinderknecht's defense called nine witnesses over about three days, including a consultant and former arson investigator who stated there was not enough evidence to illustrate a serious intent to start a fire.

CNN - Testimony by other eyewitnesses corroborated defense claims that New Year’s revelers were setting off fireworks in the area that night.

CNN - Rinderknecht was alone in a clearing when the fire broke out.

CNN - Firefighters initially suppressed the blaze, but it smoldered underground before flaring up again due to heavy winds.

CNN - Rinderknecht's defense claimed that fireworks were “the most obvious cause” of the blaze.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 21:20 UTC)

The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht has sent a note indicating they are deadlocked, so the trial will continue. In response to this development, LA’s top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, announced that he will retry Rinderknecht. This decision comes as the legal proceedings unfold in a high-profile case that has captured significant attention.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 19:32 UTC)

The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht has reached a verdict, which will be read in court shortly. Rinderknecht's defense attorney argued that no one witnessed his client lighting a fire and claimed that Rinderknecht had been made a scapegoat. Earlier, the jury had sent a note indicating they were deadlocked, but the trial continues.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 10:07 UTC)

The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht has reached a verdict, which will be read in court shortly. Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty to three federal charges related to a fire that prosecutors allege he ignited out of revenge, with more than 30 witnesses testifying against him over six days. The defense argued that there was insufficient evidence of intent to start the fire, suggesting that fireworks were the most likely cause of the blaze.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 06:19 UTC)

The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht has reached a verdict, which will be read in court shortly. Over the course of about three days, Rinderknecht's defense called nine witnesses, including a consultant and a former arson investigator, who argued that there wasn't enough evidence to prove serious intent to start a fire. Additionally, testimony from other eyewitnesses supported the defense's claims that New Year’s revelers were setting off fireworks in the area that night.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 01:42 UTC)

The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht has sent a note indicating they are deadlocked, and the trial will continue as the verdict is expected to be read in court shortly. Rinderknecht's defense called nine witnesses over the course of about three days, including a consultant and former arson investigator who testified that there was not enough evidence to demonstrate a serious intent to start a fire. As the trial progresses, all eyes will be on the courtroom for the upcoming verdict.

(UPDATED June 25, 2026 23:24 UTC)

A jury has reached a verdict in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is accused of starting the devastating Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, which claimed the lives of a dozen people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. Rinderknecht, 30 years old, pleaded not guilty to three federal charges, including arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, while prosecutors presented over 30 witnesses, arguing he was motivated by revenge against society and frustration over his personal life. His defense attorney, Steve Haney, contended that fireworks were the most obvious cause of the fire, which initially broke out on New Year’s Day 2025 and was reignited just days later.