All articles tagged with #arson
An Indiana man, 36-year-old Christopher Peden of Fort Wayne, was charged with arson after police say he cut off his genitals, doused them with gasoline and set the garage of his mother’s Fort Wayne home on fire; he initially told responders he was stabbed downtown but later admitted to the self-inflicted wound and the arson, and is being held on a $10,000 bond.
Two unidentified minors were arrested after a six-alarm fire at an abandoned Allentown warehouse spread to eight homes—six destroyed—displacing seven families; a firefighter was injured, and the juveniles face arson, recklessly endangering, conspiracy and causing a catastrophe charges as investigators say radiant heat, not direct flames, fueled the blaze.
Two juveniles are in custody and facing arson, recklessly endangering another person, conspiracy and causing a catastrophe charges in connection with Allentown's six-alarm fire at the former American Atelier furniture factory on Front Street. The suspects, ages not released, will proceed through the juvenile system as investigators—backed by state and federal partners—continue to probe the blaze. City leaders praised responders and relief efforts; United Way says 25 people in nine displaced households (including six children) are receiving aid.
A jury failed to reach a verdict in the Palisades Fire case, resulting in a mistrial and an October retrial for suspect Jonathan Rinderknecht. Jurors said there wasn’t enough evidence to convict beyond a reasonable doubt that he acted alone, and the defense argued investigators’ conclusions and other possible causes should be considered.
A federal judge declared a mistrial in the arson case against 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht after jurors deadlocked on three federal charges connected to the Palisades Fire, which scorched about 23,000 acres, damaged more than 6,000 structures and killed 12 in Los Angeles. After more than 13 hours of deliberation, the jury was split (10 not guilty, 2 for conviction), prompting the judge to declare a mistrial. Prosecutors plan to retry the case before a new jury, while the defense contends he is not responsible for the fires and highlighted evidence suggesting alternate causes.
A federal judge declared a mistrial in the Palisades fire arson case after jurors deadlocked 10-2 for acquittal on all three felony counts against former Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht, who prosecutors say started the Lachman fire that ignited the Palisades blaze. After about 13 hours of deliberations, the judge said there was manifest necessity to end the trial; prosecutors plan to retry the case, while the defense argued the evidence failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Palisades fire killed 12 people, destroyed about 6,500 structures from Pacific Palisades to Malibu, and caused billions in losses, leaving key questions of responsibility unresolved.
After roughly 10 days of trial, the federal jury in the Lachman/Palisades Fire case against ex-Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht says they are deadlocked on all counts, prompting Judge Anne Hwang to order continued deliberations as the trial continues. Rinderknecht faces up to 45 years in prison on charges including Destruction of Property by Fire, Arson Affecting Property Used in Interstate Commerce, and Timber Set Afire; if a mistrial is declared, prosecutors could retry with a new jury. The Palisades Fire devastated the LA area, destroying more than 5,400 homes and killing more than a dozen people.
Jurors in the arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht for the Palisades Fire remain deadlocked after previously signaling a verdict; prosecutors say he deliberately started the New Year’s Eve blaze that destroyed much of Pacific Palisades, burning 23,448 acres and killing 12, with evidence including surveillance, cell data and a lighter, while defense argues the case rests on fragmented proof and should not convict on partial information. If convicted on three arson counts, Rinderknecht faces up to 45 years in prison.
A federal jury in Los Angeles remains deadlocked after two days of deliberations in the arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of starting the Lachman Fire on Jan. 1, 2025, which later escalated into the Palisades Fire. The judge is seeking ways to break the stalemate, with the defense requesting an Allen charge. Prosecutors say surveillance footage, cellphone data, and Rinderknecht’s own statements place him at the ignition, while the defense contends there is no physical evidence tying him to the fires and argues for possible separate origins. A mistrial could result if no verdict is reached and deliberations continue or restart with new instructions.
Jurors in Los Angeles have reached a verdict in the federal arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, the Uber driver accused of starting the deadly Palisades Fire in 2025 that killed 12 and devastated thousands of homes; prosecutors portrayed him as driven by revenge and cited the Hidden Buddha clearing as the ignition site, with more than 30 witnesses, while the defense argued there was insufficient evidence of intent and suggested fireworks as a possible cause. He faces three federal charges including destruction of property by fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire, with the verdict to be read in court.
Australia’s spy chief says Iranian agents lived in Australia before directing arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, including the 2024 firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, underscoring ongoing security concerns about Iran-linked operations.
A 21-year-old Merlin Lu was arrested in Chicago after admitting to lighting a cross in Grant Park, and now faces four felonies (including two hate-crime counts) and four misdemeanors for arson, property damage and intimidating conduct. Prosecutors say Lu carried wooden slats to the park, built the cross and set it aflame, with two felony counts designated as hate crimes. Lu had previously claimed responsibility in a video and told NBC Chicago that the act was a solo protest against Donald Trump, while denying Ku Klux Klan ties. Photos of a person of interest circulated earlier, and Rev. Michael Pfleger offered a $10,000 reward. Lu is scheduled for a detention hearing Thursday.
A 21-year-old man, Merlin Lu, admitted lighting a cross on fire in Grant Park during a protest against the Trump administration and is in custody on four felony counts (including two hate-crime charges plus arson and damage to city property) and four misdemeanors (breach of peace, reckless conduct, damage to property, cross burning to intimidate). Prosecutors describe it as a hate crime; a detention hearing is set as Lu maintains the act was a protest, not a hate crime, and says he has no KKK affiliation.
FT reporting links a Russia-originated sabotage network to arson attacks on Keir Starmer's family home and to the recruitment of an additional, unidentified London operative who sprayed anti-Islam graffiti; footage from a Russia-based group shows a man with a barbed-wire tattoo painting an Islamic school in Leyton, with the same handler directing Lavrynovych to arson and graffiti. Lavrynovych and co-defendant Carpiuc were convicted, a third defendant was acquitted. UK police say there is no evidence the state directed the attacks; the case highlights gaps in prosecuting Russia-linked hate campaigns in Britain.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the convictions of two men who conspired to carry out arson attacks on property linked to him, saying justice has been done; a BBC Panorama investigation suggested Russian involvement via proxies, prompting fresh UK sanctions on Moscow and a push to strengthen security, defence and intelligence to deter similar attacks.