India, Oct. 9 -- Jonathan Rinderknecht lied to law enforcement officials about his whereabouts after the Palisades Fire in January 2025. Authorities arrested the 29-year-old former Palisades resident, now living in Florida, for maliciously starting the blaze.

The Justice Department announced that the perpetrator behind one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history, had been caught. Rinderknecht, also known as "Jonathan Rinder," and "Jon Rinder," of Melbourne, Florida, was charged with destruction of property by means of fire.

He was arrested Tuesday and is slated to make his initial appearance on Wednesday in United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Rinderknecht was interviewed by law enforcement ...