The verdict will not be read out in the high-profile arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, the 29-year-old man accused of sparking the devastating Palisades fire that ravaged Los Angeles in January 2025. A mistrial was declared on Friday after jurors, following more than 13 hours of deliberation, informed the court they were hopelessly deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the three federal charges.
Judge Anne Hwang cited a "manifest necessity" for declaring the mistrial, citing the jury's inability to agree. A note from the jury revealed a significant split, with 10 jurors favouring a not-guilty verdict and two others determined to convict. The note explicitly stated that individuals on both sides were "dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion," making further deliberation futile.
The Palisades fire, which claimed the lives of 12 people and scorched over 23,000 acres in the affluent enclave of Los Angeles, also resulted in damage to more than 6,000 buildings. The scale of the destruction drew national attention, with eyewitness accounts of amber skies and widespread devastation.
Prosecutors alleged that Rinderknecht's actions were a continuation of a smaller brush fire, known as the Lachman fire, which he was accused of starting on New Year's Day 2025. Despite firefighters' efforts to suppress the initial blaze, officials claimed embers smouldered underground before reigniting due to strong winds. Rinderknecht faced charges of arson, malicious destruction by fire, and timber set aflame, with potential prison sentences ranging from five to 45 years.
During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Rinderknecht as a troubled individual who allegedly sought retribution against society for personal grievances. Conversely, his defence attorneys presented him as a good Samaritan who had called emergency services regarding the Lachman fire, and suggested that fireworks were the cause of the initial blaze – a theory that faced conflicting witness testimonies.
Bill Essayli, acting US Attorney in Los Angeles, has confirmed his office's intention to retry the case before a new jury. He stated on social media that the evidence against Rinderknecht is strong and expressed confidence in securing guilty verdicts on all charged counts in a subsequent trial. Rinderknecht's attorney, Steve Haney, viewed the 10-2 jury split as a "pretty resounding indication" of his client's innocence.