Accused Palisades fire starter Jonathan Rinderknechts cunning plot unraveled at trial

The man accused for sparking the devastating Palisades Fire tried to throw investigators off his trail by recording a 911 call he made to report the blaze along with an online search meant to deceive investigators, a federal agent testified.As the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht entered day two on Thursday, prosecutors laid out a meticulous timeline of photos, videos, cellular data and ChatGPT messages arguing that 30-year-old not only started one of the deadliest and most destructive fires in California history, but tried to trick authorities with his searches.ATF Special Agent Michael Montevidoni testified that Rinderknecht called 911 several times in the early morning of January 1, shortly after the Lachman Fire started.“There’s a fire, there’s a fire,” Rinderknecht could be heard saying during the 911 call.“There’s a fire a top of Pacific Palisades highland.”While talking to 911, Rinderknecht screen-recorded the phone call and him asking ChatGPT “are you at fault if a fire is lit because of your cigarettes,” according to the clip.Montevidoni told the jury he considered that Rinderknecht’s actions recording the call and talking to ChatGPT about the fire suspicious, claiming it appeared he was trying to create an “alternative reason for why the fire was started and have a record to show at a later period.”Rinderknecht could be seen with his head down and his hands covering his eyes during periods when prosecutors questioned Montevidoni.Cellular data showed that Rinderknecht was in the area when the fire started, and video captured his vehicle in the Summit Hill neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades driving down from Buddha Hill shortly after the it ignited.

He later drove back up the hill when the fire department arrived on scene.The prosecution showed the jury videos Rinderknecht took on his phone of the fire and first responders battling the blaze between 1am and 1:36am on January 1.After leaving the area, Rinderknecht accepted several Ub...