California arson suspect in federal court Thursday morning
A Florida man has been arrested in connection to the deadly Palisades Fire that broke out in January in Los Angeles, California. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was arrested on Tuesday in Melbourne and first appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon in Orlando. He will have another court hearing on Thursday morning, where bond could be discussed. FOX 35’s Amanda McKenzie fills us in on what to expect.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The man accused of starting one of California’s deadliest wildfires will again appear in federal court Thursday morning in Orlando.
2nd Orlando court hearing
What we know:
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was arrested on Tuesday in Melbourne and appeared in federal court on Wednesday afternoon in Orlando. During the hearing, he acknowledged that he understood the charges against him.
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Rinderknecht will again appear in court at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, where the topic of bond could be discussed. He is facing federal criminal charges related to the fire. If convicted, Rinderknecht would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
FOX 35 News will be at the court hearing to provide the latest updates on the investigation.
What’s next:
Officials said Rinderknecht will be transferred back to the Central District of California to stand trial.
California wildfire suspect arrested in Central Florida
Federal agents arrested a 29-year-old man in Central Florida accused of sparking the deadliest wildfire in Los Angeles history. The Palisades Fire killed 12 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and scorched more than 23,000 acres.
Who is Jonathan Rinderknecht?
Dig deeper:
Rinderknecht, also known as “Jonathan Rinder,” and “Jon Rinder,” is originally from Indiana and has a high school diploma.
Investigators said he was previously a resident of Palisades and was familiar with the neighborhood he is accused of starting the fire in. Officials said he later moved to Melbourne, Florida, after starting the fire.
Authorities said Rinderknecht started the fire after he finished his shift as an Uber driver. Videos of the fire taken on his cellphone and 911 calls were among the evidence connecting Rinderknecht to the fire, officials said.
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Detectives said Rinderknecht has talked with investigators and given “false statements.”
Reaction from community where fire suspect was arrested
A Brevard County man was arrested for allegedly starting California’s deadly Palisades Fire. The blaze killed 12 and destroyed thousands of homes before being contained in January. FOX 35’s Amanda Ruiz speaks with former locals who say the arrest hits close to home — both literally and emotionally.
What is the Palisades Fire?
The backstory:
The Palisades Fire was the most destructive fire in the city’s history. It killed 12 people, burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed more than 6,000 structures, officials said.
The fire was first reported on Jan. 7, 2025 in Palisades Highlands, an LA-area neighborhood.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the U.S. Department of Justice in a press release and at a press conference on Oct. 8, 2025.
