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Authorities have arrested a man acccused of sparking the Palisades Fire that devastated parts of Los Angeles at the start of the year, leaving at least a dozen people dead and thousands without homes.Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is accused of maliciously starting a fire in the early hours of Jan. 1. Though it was initially put out, it continued to burn underground until winds ignited it and turned it into the Palisades Fire, special agent Kenny Cooper said during a news conference.The flames, along with the Eaton Fire in another part of Los Angeles County, erupted on Jan. 7 and burned for weeks. They claimed at least 31 lives, but the toll was likely much higher, researchers said. Over 23,000 acres were burned in the Palisades Fire, and thousands of homes and other structures were destroyed.Rinderknecht, who authorities say repeatedly watched a music video featuring flames and had AI images of fiery scenes, is charged with a federal count of destruction of property by means of fire. If convicted, he could face between five and 20 years in prison.He did not enter a plea during his initial court appearance on Oct. 8 in Orlando, Florida, as he was appointed a public defense attorney, according to Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. Rinderknecht is due back in court for a detention hearing on Oct. 9. He won't enter a plea until he's extradited back to California.How did the blaze allegedly start?Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver on New Year's Eve and dropped off a passenger in the Palisades neighborhood, officials said Wednesday. Two customers he drove that night told investigators he "appeared agitated and angry."He then walked up a trailhead onto a hilltop at about 12:12 a.m. on Jan. 1, igniting what became known as the Lachman Fire, said Acting District Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli.Rinderknecht made several attempts to call 911 after lighting the fire just after midnight, according to the criminal complaint against him. Many attempts didn't go through, but officials said the man may not have had cell signal in the area. He was eventually able to reach emergency services, by which time a nearby resident had already reported it to 911.The suspect also used the ChatGPT AI platform to ask “Are you at fault if a fire is lift [sic]because of your cigarettes,” according to the criminal complaint.The search and the calls to 911 were screen recorded using his phone, indicating he "wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire," the complaint said.Hours later, he also allegedly turned around and went back to the trail, where he took videos and photos of the fire and firefighters battling it, authorities said.Rinderknecht, also known as "Jonathan Rinder" and "Jon Rinder," lived in Southern California, before later moving to Melbourne, Florida. Essayli said the case will go before a grand jury, and prosecutors could seek additional charges.The criminal complaint against Rinderknecht further alleges he lied to authorities, telling them he first spotted the fire after leaving a clearing and walking back down the hill toward his car.Palisades Fire suspect used AI to generate burning city imagesFederal investigators say Jonathan Rinderknecht used ChatGPT to create disturbing fire-themed visuals before the deadly Palisades blaze.Suspect allegedly watched fiery music video, used ChatGPT after sparking blazeBefore the Jan. 1 flames broke out, Rinderknecht used his iPhone to listen to the song “Un Zder, Un The,” by the French artist Josman, the criminal complaint said. Rinderknecht also told investigators he grew up in France and was fluent in French.Records also showed Rinderknecht listened to the song nine times in the four days leading up to the fire. The music video, which he watched three times during that period, shows someone lighting things on fire.Investigators found an AI-generated image of a city burning on one of Rinderknecht's devices , Essayli noted Wednesday. The image was made using the following prompt in July 2024, according to the complaint: “A dystopian painting divided into distinct parts that blend together seamlessly. On the far left, there is a burning forest. Next to it, a crowd of people is running away from the fire, leading to the middle. In the middle, hundreds of thousands of people in poverty are trying to get past a gigantic gate with a big dollar sign on it.""On the other side of the gate and the entire wall is a conglomerate of the richest people. They are chilling, watching the world burn down, and watching the people struggle," The prompt continued. "They are laughing, enjoying themselves, and dancing. The scene is detailed and impactful, highlighting the stark contrast and the direct connection between the different parts of the world.”Jan. 1 fire turned into the Palisades blazeThe Palisades Fire, which was believed to have started on Jan. 7, is what's known as a "holdover fire," authorities said. A holdover fire, also known as a "zombie fire" can continue to burn underground and flare up again later.Firefighters put out the Jan. 1 Lachman Fire later the same day after it burned 8 to 10 acres, and intentionally left behind fire hoses in case they needed to redeploy to the area, the criminal complaint said. They collected the hoses on Jan. 2.The Lachman Fire was caused by an open flame, likely a lighter, the complaint added. Other causes ruled out included fireworks, lightning strikes, electric lines, refraction of sunlight through glass and smoking.'A total shock'News of an arrest came as a complete surprise to Perry Akins, 85, and his wife Methal, 77. The couple lost their Pacific Palisades home of 45 years where they raised their two children to the fire.“I’d call it a total shock, if that’s even the right word,” Perry Akins said in a phone call with USA TODAY on Oct. 8. “I didn’t think someone would even start the fire, on purpose? I had no idea.” Methal Akins said she was even more at a loss for words. “I always thought it was natural causes. Wow,” she said. “That would be terrible if someone actually did that.”The couple, who has decided not to rebuild, has since moved to nearby Brentwood, California. Perry Akins, who is president of the Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades, said the organization has been spending months helping get donations toward a Palisades Fire relief fund. Some 16 Rotary members lost their homes during the fire, Akins said. He added that the arrest will definitely be the topic of tonight’s scheduled meeting. “I don’t think we will talk about anything else,” Akins said.Contributing: Thao Nguyen and Christopher Cann
