In a revelation that overturns much of previous investigation into the devastating Pacific Palisades Fire, the Department of Justice today said the blaze was a “holdover” fire from a blaze that had been set a week prior which, federal prosecutors said today, was the result of the actions of a 29-year-old Uber driver.

an “agitated” Rinderknecht walked up Skull Rock Trailhead on NYE after dropping off Uber passengers

“People do evil things for whatever reason,” Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper of the LA. Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives bluntly said at a press conference this morning after Rinderknecht’s arrest. “I’m not going to speculate or go into anything of that, like we have evidence of that, that will be addressed in trial, but evil people do evil things.”

Or, “Florida man accused of starting New Year’s Day fire that became deadly Palisades Fire days later

Suspect's booking photo

Other stories I considered posting for this event:

Palisades firebug Jonathan Rinderknecht listened to disturbing French song repeatedly before setting ‘malicious’ fire: court docs —NYPost

Lyrics from the song include, “Daily life is killing me,” “I feel like I’m nowhere,” and “too much bitterness in my head, I think about the mistakes we made.”

“Google records indicate that Rinderknecht had listened to the same song nine times in the previous four days,” it states. He watched the corresponding fiery music video four times.

Officials arrest man in Florida on suspicion of starting devastating Palisades Fire —CNN

Rinderknecht asked the chatbot for 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.”

While Rinderknecht was attempting to contact authorities, he used ChatGPT again to ask, “Are you at fault if a fire is lift (sic) because of your cigarettes,” the complaint says.

Investigators later ruled out cigarettes as a possible cause based on weather conditions at the time, according to the complaint.

  • TheGoldenV@lemmy.world
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    20 hours ago

    ““Google records indicate that Rinderknecht had listened to the same song nine times in the previous four days,” it states. He watched the corresponding fiery music video four times.”

    I thought we had proven that music and video games weren’t the problem. CNN really laying it on thick. Did he wear sneakers too?

    If he’s guilty then jail, but stick to the facts.

    I know I’m being foolish. I hate this timeline.

    • Zagam@piefed.social
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      21 hours ago

      I tell my kids, never write anything down you don’t want everyone to see. When I was a kid, my mom taught me that and that was just on paper. Now everything can be permanent.

      • StinkyFingerItchyBum@lemmy.ca
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        20 hours ago

        If I ever decide to do anything criminal, I’m going to google shit like “How do I get Trump to adopt the hamster he stuck up my ass?” And watch a lot of feltching videos, for posterity.

  • Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works
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    22 hours ago

    Rinderknecht at one point asked ChatGPT if “you at fault if a fire is lift [sic] because of your cigarettes.”

    This dude sounds incredibly dense.

  • railway692@piefed.zip
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    23 hours ago

    Investigators later ruled out cigarettes as a possible cause based on weather conditions at the time, according to the complaint.

    ‘It was too [insert weather here] for a cigarette’ sounds like bullshit.

    • Aatube@kbin.melroy.orgOP
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      22 hours ago

      I find it believable. Cigarette embers are not unlike the firework embers that were ruled out in part due to too much transit time and cooling.

      • railway692@piefed.zip
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        13 hours ago

        Oh, I understand now.

        I thought the claim was “the weather made it unlikely that he smoked a cigarette”.