Prosecutors Use Man's ChatGPT Log in Unsuccessful Arson Case

Earlier this year, we reported on a trend of AI chatbots helping people plan violent attacks. Florida prosecutors looked into ChatGPT's role in a deadly shooting. Now, another case might have used AI: the 2025 Pacific Palisades fire.

California prosecutors say suspected arsonist Jonathan Rinderknecht used ChatGPT like a diary. He talked about fire and made images of cities burning. In one message, he asked if he could be blamed for a fire from a fallen cigarette.

Rinderknecht was arrested in October 2025 for destruction of property and arson. He could have gotten up to 45 years in prison for the fire that destroyed over 6,000 buildings and killed 12 people.

US attorney Bill Essayli said on social media that the evidence shows Jonathan Rinderknecht started the fire on January 1, 2025.

The trial ended last Thursday, but the jury couldn't decide. After two days, they told the judge they couldn't reach a decision, and the judge said there would be no verdict. A juror said, 'There's just not enough proof. A lot of holes.' The jury couldn't agree, so the judge declared a mistrial. The case is not over yet. The jury's decision means the trial will start again.

The judge has scheduled a new trial for October this year. Rinderknecht will stay in jail until then. The new trial will try to answer the questions the jury had.

The company that owns Mashable, Ziff Davis, sued OpenAI in April 2025. They said OpenAI used their copyrights without permission when training its AI systems.

The case is about Artificial Intelligence, Government, and ChatGPT.

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