Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of celebrated Hollywood director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, is expected to appear in court on Wednesday to face charges for their murders.
Charges and Arrest in Brentwood Homicide
Nick Reiner is being held without bail after being formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The charges include the special circumstance of multiple murders and an allegation that a dangerous weapon, identified as a knife, was used.
The Los Angeles Police Department discovered the bodies of Rob and Michele Reiner in their Brentwood home on Sunday, 14 December. Officers had responded to a call for a death investigation. Authorities quickly determined the couple were victims of a homicide.
Following their investigation, police stated that evidence "revealed" the couple's younger son, Nick Reiner, "was responsible for their deaths." He was located and arrested later that same evening.
Legal Proceedings and Statements
At a news conference on Tuesday, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges. He confirmed that Nick Reiner would be arraigned once he received medical clearance to be transferred from jail.
Hochman emphasised the presumption of innocence, stating, "charges are not evidence" and that proof must be established "beyond a reasonable doubt" in court.
Nick Reiner's defence attorney, Alan Jackson, told reporters his client had not yet been medically cleared and would not appear in court before Wednesday.
Background and Previous Struggles
Nick Reiner has a documented history of grappling with drug abuse and mental health challenges. His personal experiences informed the 2015 film Being Charlie, which he co-wrote and which was directed by his father, Rob Reiner. The film was reportedly loosely based on Nick's own battles with addiction and his complex relationship with his father.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Los Angeles community and the wider entertainment industry, where Rob Reiner is revered for his work as an actor, director, and political activist.
