Nick Reiner Makes First Court Appearance in Parents’ Double Homicide Case
Nick Reiner appeared briefly in a Los Angeles courthouse Wednesday for the first time since being accused of killing his parents, legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. The 32-year-old did not enter a plea, and his arraignment was postponed until Jan. 7, the second delay since his arrest Sunday night. Wearing what appeared to be an all-blue protective vest, Reiner spoke only once during the hearing, responding “Yes, your honor,” when addressed by the judge.
Prosecutors charged Reiner on Tuesday with two counts of murder, including special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, along with an allegation that he used a deadly weapon, a knife, according to court records. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Arraignments are typically used to formally present charges, address bail and legal representation, and allow a defendant to enter a plea, but none of those steps occurred Wednesday due to the delay.
Reiner’s Attorney Alan Jackson Addresses Court Delay After First Hearing
Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, said the arraignment was initially postponed because his client was not medically cleared in time for Tuesday’s hearing, describing the issue as procedural and declining to provide further details. It remains unclear why the hearing was postponed a second time. Speaking outside the courthouse Wednesday, Jackson urged restraint as the case moves forward, saying, “There are very, very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case.”
Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead Sunday in the master bedroom of their Brentwood home, according to Los Angeles Police Department officials. Prosecutors said the couple was fatally stabbed in the early morning hours. Later that evening, shortly after 9 p.m., Los Angeles police officers located Nick Reiner in the University Park area near the University of Southern California and took him into custody.
Surveillance footage later obtained by NBC Los Angeles shows Reiner walking near the intersection of Exposition Boulevard and Vermont Avenue before being surrounded by multiple police vehicles. Moments earlier, he was seen inside a gas station convenience store purchasing a bottled drink. Jail records show he is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles.
Reiner’s Other Children Speak Out for the First Time After Parents’ Killings
In a statement released Wednesday, Rob and Michele Reiner’s other children, Jake Reiner, 34, and Romy Reiner, 27, asked for public speculation to be tempered with compassion. They described the loss of their parents as devastating and said they were experiencing “unimaginable pain,” but did not mention their brother.
Nick Reiner has previously spoken publicly about struggles with substance abuse, telling People magazine in 2016 that he had experienced periods of homelessness and had entered drug rehabilitation programs multiple times since his teenage years. That same year, he co-wrote the film “Being Charlie” with his father, a story centered on addiction and recovery. Authorities have not disclosed a motive in the killings, and the case remains under investigation.
