Palisades Fire Suspect Allegedly Burned Bible, Said It Made Him Feel ‘Liberated,’ Investigators Say
Federal prosecutors say Jonathan Rinderknecht, the 29-year-old suspect arrested in connection with the catastrophic Palisades Fire earlier this year, told a relative he burned a Bible months before the blaze and described the act as making him feel “amazing” and “liberated.”
According to an affidavit cited by the San Francisco Chronicle, Rinderknecht allegedly admitted in a digital exchange with ChatGPT that he had destroyed the religious text and felt a sense of release afterward. Investigators say that evidence from his devices includes a ChatGPT-generated image of a burning city and videos reportedly showing firefighters working to contain the flames.
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.
At a news conference, Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the arrest brings the investigation “one step closer” to justice for victims and their families, noting that authorities will continue to gather and present evidence. “While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy,” Essayli said.
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.