LOS ANGELES (Gray News) – An arrest has been made in connection to the deadly fire that erupted on Jan. 7, killing 12 people and destroying more than 6,000 homes and buildings in the Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighborhood of LA, according to the Department of Justice.

Authorities said in a news conference Wednesday, that 29-year-old Johnathan Rinderknecht is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, which is considered a felony.

Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli said Rinderknecht is accused of starting a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year’s Day. That fire eventually turned into one of the most catastrophic fires in United States history.

Investigators collected evidence from Rinderknecht’s digital devices, including an image he generated on ChaptGPT d

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