Palisades Jury Deadlocks

Jurors in the federal trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of igniting the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, told the court Thursday they were deadlocked after two days of deliberations. The panel had earlier indicated it reached a verdict, then sent a note saying jurors were split and could not reach unanimity, prompting U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang to recess proceedings until Friday. Prosecutors allege Rinderknecht started the blaze out of a desire for “revenge” against society, while the trial centers on whether he caused the fire that devastated Pacific Palisades. Attorneys are now weighing next steps as deliberations continue and a mistrial remains possible if the impasse holds.