Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, of Florida, has been taken into custody by authorities on suspicion of igniting the fire that turned into the devastating Palisades fire in Los Angeles earlier this year.
According to investigators, on January 1, Rinderknecht started a tiny fire next to a hillside trail. The fire smoldered underground before breaking out into the full-scale Palisades Fire a few days later. In the end, the wildfire burned nearly 23,000 acres, destroyed thousands of buildings, and claimed 12 lives.
Federal charges of arson and destruction have been brought against him since his arrest in Florida. It is anticipated that he will be moved to the Central District of California in order to face trial.