A man accused of sparking the New Year's Day fire that helped fuel the deadly Palisades inferno allegedly displayed "incel energy," according to a passenger who rode in his Uber.Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested in October 2025 and charged with destruction of property by means of fire and pleaded not guilty after being charged in connection with the Palisades Fire in January 2025.He's currently facing trial in California.
Los Angeles resident Brennan White testified Friday that when he rode in Rinderknecht's Uber with his fiancee on New Year's Day in 2025, that the suspect gave off "incel energy."White said that Rinderknecht was driving erratically and wouldn't stop talking about how humanity was crumbling, talking about how there aren't any good women in the region.The witness told the Los Angeles Police Department that Rinderknecht gave off "incel energy," saying it's a slang term for someone who's a loner or more isolated.PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT HELD WITHOUT BONDJonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was charged with igniting the blaze that became the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.(USAttyEssayli/X)White, who was drinking that night, said he made small talk with Rinderknecht for the first three to five minutes of the ride, then the driver started ranting.
He said that Rinderknecht was violent with his words but didn't ask to be let out of the Uber because he felt it was better not to say anything.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XFormer federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital this may be one of the most "memorable" moments of Rinderknecht's trial and added that prosecutors had a specific reason for calling White to testify."An incel is someone that is unable to have or maintain a relationship and is celibate involuntarily.So someone that is a loner, someone who is strange, someone like that is more likely to be an arsonist, is more likely to be a mass shooter.
So by painting him in this way, I think it does help the prosecution's case," Rahmani said."The q...