Highlights
- Nick Reiner, son of director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, diagnosed with schizophrenia
- Parents found stabbed to death at Brentwood, Los Angeles home on Dec. 14, 2025
- Nick charged with two counts of first-degree murder and held without bail
Diagnosis and background
Nick Reiner, 32, son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, is reported to have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and treated by a psychiatrist in the weeks before his parents’ deaths. According to TMZ, a recent change in his medication may have contributed to “erratic and dangerous” behavior.
Nick had struggled with substance abuse since his early teens, entering rehab over 18 times by age 22. His experiences with addiction and homelessness later inspired the 2015 film Being Charlie, written by Nick and directed by Rob Reiner.
Discovery of the crime
On Dec. 14, 2025, Rob and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death inside their Brentwood, Los Angeles, home. Their daughter discovered the bodies in the master bedroom around 3:40 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Times.
Nick Reiner reportedly checked into Santa Monica’s Pierside Hotel the following morning, where staff discovered blood in the shower and on the bed. He was later captured on surveillance footage at a gas station before being arrested near the Expo/Vermont Metro Station in Exposition Park.
Charges and arraignment
On Dec. 16, Nick Reiner was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He appeared in court on Dec. 18, handcuffed and wearing an anti-suicide vest. His arraignment has been postponed until Jan. 7, 2026, after his attorney, Alan Jackson, confirmed he had not been medically cleared to appear.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described cases involving family members as “some of the most challenging and heart-wrenching cases this office faces because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes involved.”
Family statement
Jake and Romy Reiner, Nick’s siblings, issued a statement: “Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day. The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”
Legal proceedings and custody
Nick Reiner remains held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted on both counts, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty. No decision has been made yet on whether prosecutors will seek capital punishment.
Medical history and recent behavior
Sources report that Nick was under psychiatric care and had recently attended a Los Angeles rehab facility specializing in mental health and substance abuse. In the month preceding the murders, his behavior reportedly worsened despite attempts to adjust his medication.
On Dec. 13, the day before the murders, Nick reportedly argued with his parents at a party hosted by Conan O’Brien, where guests noted erratic behavior.
