Rob Reiner’s Son Nick Reiner to Be Charged With Murders of Director, Michele Reiner
Nick Reiner could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Two days after his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found murdered in their home, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the formal charges being brought against the 32-year-old, which could carry a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty.
“These charges will be two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders,” the district attorney said during a Dec. 16 press conference. “He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife.”
“These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty,” Hochman continued. “No decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty.”
As for the minimum penalty, each count of first-degree murder carries a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, per California Penal Code 187.
While Hochman explained that his office would be formally filing those first-degree murder charges that afternoon, he cautioned viewers that “charges are not evidence.”
“Evidence is something that we will be presenting in a court of law,” he said, “to meet the standard of proof we meet in every criminal case, which is beyond a reasonable doubt, to 12 jurors who unanimously have to find that we met that standard to prove the charges we bring to court.”
Although the DA did not detail any evidence recovered from the investigation, he applauded the Los Angeles Police Department’s robbery homicide division who “has been working around the clock to gather the evidence that has led to the charges we’re going to be filing today.”
Meanwhile, Hochman explained that next steps for Nick include completing a medical clearance—standard practice for everyone arrested by the LAPD—and appearing in court.
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“Once he is medically cleared, he will be brought to court to be arraigned on these charges,” Hochman said. “At that point, he will enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.”
Nick was arrested on Dec. 14 around 9 p.m., six hours after police found the bodies of his parents in their Los Angeles home.
Lawyer Alan Jackson—who has represented Harvey Weinstein and Karen Read—told reporters he will be Nick’s attorney in the case.
For all the details about Rob and Michele’s murder investigation so far, keep reading…
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Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner’s Son Nick Reiner Details Struggle With Drugs
Years before Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner’s tragic deaths, their son Nick Reiner shared that he struggled with addiction, even collaborating with his father on the 2015 film Being Charlie about substance abuse.
Nick explained that he had been to rehab 17 times before turning 30.
“I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas,” he told People in 2016. “I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun.”
Two years later, Nick recalled an instance when he “wrecked” his home while high on drugs.
“I went 10 rounds in my guest house,” he shared on the Dopey podcast in 2018. “I got totally spun out on uppers—I think it was coke and something else—and I was up for days on end. I started punching out some things in my guest house.”
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Rob Reiner and Nick Reiner Fight at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas Party on Night Before Couple Is Found Dead
The When Harry Met Sally director and his 32-year-old son got into a heated argument at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party on Dec. 13, multiple sources at the event told People. Family friends also confirmed to the L.A. Times that Rob and Nick fought at the holiday celebration, saying that guests noticed Nick acting strangely.
Two sources with knowledge of the situation told NBC News that Nick was being disruptive at the party and interrupting conversations.
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Rob Reiner and Wife Michele Singer Reiner Are Found Dead in Their Brentwood, Calif., Home
The day after the Christmas party, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call of a death investigation at a home in Brentwood, Calif., at about 3:40 p.m. on Dec. 14.
“Once inside the residence, officers discovered two victims,” the LAPD said in a press release, “who were subsequently identified as Robert and Michele Reiner.”
The Robbery Homicide Division, Homicide Special Section (RHD/HSS) started an investigation into the circumstances of their deaths.
Deputy Police Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters that many family members would be interviewed, per NBC News. In addition to Nick, the couple are parents to daughter Romy Reiner and son Jake Reiner, and Rob also adopted late ex-wife Penny Marshall‘s daughter Tracy Reiner.
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The Reiners’ Manner of Death Revealed as Homicide
Rob and Michele did not die of natural causes, with a source close to the Reiner family telling NBC News that the couple appeared to have died from stab wounds.
“As a result of the initial investigation,” the LAPD said in a press release, “it was determined that the Reiners were the victims of homicide.”
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Nick Reiner Is Arrested on Suspicion of Murder
The LAPD said their investigation determined that Rob and Michele’s son Nick was “responsible for their deaths.” The screenwriter wasn’t taken into custody until hours after his parents’ bodies were found.
“Nick Reiner was located and arrested at approximately 9:15 p.m.,” police said in a press release, adding as of Dec. 15, “He was booked for murder and remains in custody with no bail.”
E! News was not able to find a lawyer on file to speak on Nick Reiner’s behalf.
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Rob Reiner’s Daughter Tracy Reiner Reacts to His Death
After Rob’s death, Tracy said she’d seen her father the day before his passing.
“I came from the greatest family ever,” she told NBC News. “I don’t know what to say. I’m in shock.”
Michael Tullberg/Getty Images; Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for DIFF
Jane Fonda Says Michele & Rob Reiner Were “Happy” Night Before Deaths
Jane Fonda saw Rob and Michele the night before their tragic deaths.
“I saw them night before last looking healthy and happy,” the actress wrote on Instagram Dec. 15. “I am reeling with grief. Stunned.”
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The Obamas Had Plans to Meet With the Reiners
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live Dec. 15, Michelle Obama revealed that she and husband Barack Obama were supposed to see Rob and Michele on the day they were found dead.
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images/TED SOQUI/EPA/Shutterstock
Nick Reiner Hires Alan Jackson—Lawyer for Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey—as His Attorney
Two days after Nick was arrested in connection to the murder of his parents, criminal defense attorney Alan Jackson—who previously represented Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Karen Read—confirmed to E! News Dec. 16 that he had been hire as Nick’s attorney in the case.
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Nick Reiner’s Courthouse Absence Explained
As officials gathered at a Los Angeles courthouse Dec. 16 to announce formal charges against Nick, his attorney told reporters that the screenwriter “has not been medically cleared” to appear in front of a judge.
“Every inmate has to be medically cleared before they can be transported to court,” he explained to reporters, per MS NOW. “Hopefully, he’ll be cleared tomorrow and we can get him here.”
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Nick Reiner’s Murder Charges Announced
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on Dec. 16 that his office plans to formally charge Nick with “two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders.”
The D.A. also confirmed Nick will also face a “special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife” on his parents.
He added, “These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.”
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