Suspect in Palisades Fire Obsessed with Luigi Mangione, Held Resentment Toward Rich, Prosecutors Say

Prosecutors say the man accused of igniting the New Year's Day fire that sparked the deadly Palisades inferno fixated on Luigi Mangione and harbored resentment toward the rich.

Jonathan Rinderknecht faced arrest in October 2025 on charges of destruction of property by means of fire. He pleaded not guilty in connection with the Palisades Fire that broke out in January 2025. A new trial memorandum from prosecutors details his obsession with Mangione, accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

"In the months leading up to the fire, he had become increasingly angry with his life and society at large," prosecutors wrote. "For example, in the weeks and hours leading up to the fire, defendant fixated on Luigi Mangione, who allegedly murdered the UnitedHealthcare CEO in New York City on December 4, 2024."

Federal prosecutors noted Rinderknecht searched terms including "free LuigiMangione," "lets take down all the billionaires" and "reddit lets kill all the billionaires" on December 12 and 13, 2024. On January 3, 2025, he took a screenshot of an article about Mangione pleading not guilty.

Many Uber passengers described Rinderknecht as angry and intense on December 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025. He drove erratically while ranting about being "pissed off at the world," along with Luigi Mangione, capitalism and vigilantism, according to the court filing.

On January 24, 2025, investigators asked Rinderknecht why someone might commit arson in Pacific Palisades. He replied it stemmed from resentment of the rich enjoying their money while "we’re basically being enslaved by them." He compared such desperation to the murder Mangione faced charges for, prosecutors wrote.

Fox News Digital contacted Rinderknecht's attorney for comment.

Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said in a statement: "As we have stated before in multiple public court filings, Mr. Mangione does not support violent actions and does not condone past or future political violence. These repeated attempts to connect him to unrelated acts or to insinuate that he condones or supports these acts are irresponsible, dangerous and prejudicial."

Prosecutors said Rinderknecht showed extreme anger over failing to find companionship on New Year's Eve. He fixated on a former co-worker he briefly dated in March 2024. After she requested space on December 30, 2024, he left her two manic voicemails and used ChatGPT to vent his displeasure.

Rinderknecht drove for Uber in Los Angeles from New Year's Eve 2024 into New Year's Day 2025. Two passengers said he seemed agitated after dropping someone off in Pacific Palisades.

He allegedly started the fire after parking at the Skull Rock trailhead, then called 911. Afterward, he asked ChatGPT, "Are you at fault if a fire is lift [sic] because of your cigarettes?" ChatGPT replied "Yes" and explained.

Prosecutors allege Rinderknecht sparked the Lachman Fire, extinguished on January 2. Heavy winds then reignited underground embers, fueling the Palisades Fire. It killed 12 people and displaced many.

Rinderknecht faces charges of destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.