UMVA has learned that a passenger in Jonathan Rinderknecht's Uber on New Year's Day 2025 described him as exuding "incel energy," a term used to describe someone who is isolated and loner-like, before the suspect allegedly sparked the deadly Palisades inferno.
The passenger, Brennan White, a Los Angeles resident, testified that Rinderknecht was driving erratically and wouldn't stop talking about how humanity was crumbling and how there weren't any good women in the region. White said he made small talk with Rinderknecht for a few minutes before the driver started ranting.
Rinderknecht was arrested in October 2025 and charged with destruction of property by means of fire; he pleaded not guilty and is currently facing trial in California. The prosecution presented White's testimony as evidence of Rinderknecht's unstable mental state.
According to information obtained by UMVA, prosecutors believe that Rinderknecht's behavior and online searches suggest a growing anger towards society and a fixation on violent acts. In the months leading up to the fire, Rinderknecht had become increasingly angry with his life and society at large.
Prosecutors claim that Rinderknecht's online searches included terms like "free Luigi Mangione," "lets take down all the billionaires," and "reddit lets kill all the billionaires." These searches were allegedly made in the weeks leading up to the fire.
Rinderknecht's behavior on the day of the fire and the days leading up to it has been scrutinized by investigators. Many of his Uber passengers described him as angry, intense, and ranting about being "pissed off at the world" and Luigi Mangione, capitalism, and vigilantism.
When investigators asked Rinderknecht why someone might commit arson in the Pacific Palisades, he allegedly responded that it would be out of resentment towards the rich and compared such an act to the murder for which Mangione was charged.
Rinderknecht is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. His lawyers have not commented on the case.
The case has sparked a wider conversation about the motivations behind violent acts and the impact of societal inequality. A supporter of Mangione, Lena Weissbrot, stated that while she does not condone violence, she believes that wealth inequality in America can lead to boiling over of rage.
Rinderknecht is being held without bond as his trial continues.
