Florida man accused in California’s Palisades fire fixated on Luigi Mangione

Federal prosecutors say a Central Florida man charged in connection with a New Year’s Day brush fire in Pacific Palisades fixated on Luigi Mangione in the days before the blaze, according to a trial memorandum filed ahead of trial.The filing in United States v. Jonathan Rinderknecht says prosecutors intend to use that material as part of their effort to show motive and state of mind. They allege Jonathan Rinderknecht, who was arrested in his Melbourne home in October 2025, intentionally set a Jan. 1, 2025, fire on Hidden Buddha Hill, triggering what they describe as the Lachman Fire.Prosecutors further allege that the larger Palisades Fire that broke out Jan. 7 was a holdover fire that continued smoldering from the earlier blaze.Rinderknecht, 30, is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.According to the memorandum, prosecutors plan to rely on cellphone location data, recorded statements, expert testimony on the fire’s cause and a Bic lighter recovered from Rinderknecht’s car that they say contained his DNA.The filing also says that in the weeks before the fire, Rinderknecht searched phrases including “free Luigi Mangione,” “Let’s take down all the billionaires,” and “Reddit lets kill all the billionaires.” Prosecutors also allege that he took a screenshot on Jan. 3, 2025, of an article about Mangione entering a not guilty plea in a criminal case.The memorandum further says Uber passengers heard Rinderknecht rant about Mangione, capitalism and vigilantism. Prosecutors also say he later compared an arson motive rooted in resentment of wealthy people to the killing Mangione was charged with.Separately, prosecutors allege Rinderknecht was alone at the scene, called 911, left before firefighters arrived and later returned to film the response. They also say he made false statements to investigators about where he was when the fire started.The memorandum is a statement of the government’s allegations ahead of trial and is not itself evidence. The allegations have not been proven in court, and Rinderknecht is presumed innocent unless convicted.Defense arguments were not detailed in the filing.In November 2025, a judge ordered that Rinderknecht remain in custody pending trial.Rinderknecht’s trial is scheduled to begin on June 8. Prosecutors say they may call up to 50 witnesses and expect the case to last as long as 10 days.

MELBOURNE, Fla. —

Federal prosecutors say a Central Florida man charged in connection with a New Year’s Day brush fire in Pacific Palisades fixated on Luigi Mangione in the days before the blaze, according to a trial memorandum filed ahead of trial.

The filing in United States v. Jonathan Rinderknecht says prosecutors intend to use that material as part of their effort to show motive and state of mind.

They allege Jonathan Rinderknecht, who was arrested in his Melbourne home in October 2025, intentionally set a Jan. 1, 2025, fire on Hidden Buddha Hill, triggering what they describe as the Lachman Fire.

Prosecutors further allege that the larger Palisades Fire that broke out Jan. 7 was a holdover fire that continued smoldering from the earlier blaze.

Rinderknecht, 30, is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.

According to the memorandum, prosecutors plan to rely on cellphone location data, recorded statements, expert testimony on the fire’s cause and a Bic lighter recovered from Rinderknecht’s car that they say contained his DNA.

The filing also says that in the weeks before the fire, Rinderknecht searched phrases including “free Luigi Mangione,” “Let’s take down all the billionaires,” and “Reddit lets kill all the billionaires.”

Prosecutors also allege that he took a screenshot on Jan. 3, 2025, of an article about Mangione entering a not guilty plea in a criminal case.

The memorandum further says Uber passengers heard Rinderknecht rant about Mangione, capitalism and vigilantism. Prosecutors also say he later compared an arson motive rooted in resentment of wealthy people to the killing Mangione was charged with.

Separately, prosecutors allege Rinderknecht was alone at the scene, called 911, left before firefighters arrived and later returned to film the response. They also say he made false statements to investigators about where he was when the fire started.

The memorandum is a statement of the government’s allegations ahead of trial and is not itself evidence. The allegations have not been proven in court, and Rinderknecht is presumed innocent unless convicted.

Defense arguments were not detailed in the filing.

In November 2025, a judge ordered that Rinderknecht remain in custody pending trial.

Rinderknecht’s trial is scheduled to begin on June 8.

Prosecutors say they may call up to 50 witnesses and expect the case to last as long as 10 days.