A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a man accused of starting the deadliest wildfire in Los Angeles history.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, is accused of deliberately igniting a blaze in January 2025 that grew into the Pacific Palisades fire, killing 12 people and destroying more than 6,000 buildings.
Jurors told the court on Thursday that they were unable to reach a unanimous decision in the case after two days of deliberations, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial.
Prosecutors said they intend to retry the case.
On Friday, one of the attorneys for Rinderknecht said the mistrial was a “pretty resounding indication of what the jury felt about this case” and that they were not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, US media reported.
Rinderknecht, who once lived in the affluent coastal community, was arrested in October and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He faced up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
“The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire,” US attorney Bill Essayli said in a post on social media after the mistrial.
Prosecutors accused Rinderknecht of lighting a small brush fire on New Year’s Eve 2025, which became known as the Lachman fire.
The fire was one of several that ignited back-to-back across the LA region in January, which in total left 31 people dead and destroyed 16,000 structures.
Rinderknecht – a dual French and US citizen and former Uber driver – was charged with destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire.
Prosecutors argued the accused used ChatGPT like a diary, chronicling his fascination with fire before travelling to the area and lighting the blaze.
Fire officials believed they had extinguished the Lachman fire, but it smouldered underground for six days before extreme Santa Ana Winds rekindled its embers near a hiking trail that overlooks the wealthy coastal neighbourhood.
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Watch: Palisades fire burns homes as thousands evacuate in LA
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