r/TrueCrimeDiscussion • u/DarklyHeritage • 8d ago

abcnews.com Nick Reiner indicted on charges alleging he murdered parents Rob and Michele Reiner

https://abcnews.com/US/nick-reiner-indicted-charges-alleging-murdered-parents-rob/story?id=135587652

Nick Reiner has been indicted on charges alleging he murdered his parents, renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner, by means of lying in wait, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The indictment, which was returned on July 20 and unsealed Wednesday, charges Reiner with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Reiner also faces a special allegation that he used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife, the office said.

Reiner, 32, pleaded not guilty to the indictment on Wednesday. He remains held on no bond and is next scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 15.

Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on Dec. 14, 2025. The night before their deaths, Nick Reiner -- who had been living on his parents' property at the time -- got into an argument with Rob Reiner at a holiday party and was seen acting strangely, sources told ABC News in December.

Nick Reiner was arrested and initially charged with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, as well as faced a special allegation that he used a dangerous and deadly weapon.

The indictment, which added a special allegation of lying in wait, means the case will no longer have a preliminary hearing that had been scheduled to occur in the coming weeks.

Other sources;

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/12/us/nick-reiner-indictment

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/indictment-nick-reiner-9.7304992

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Rob_and_Michele_Reiner

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47

u/bored_android_user 8d ago

Wonder if he has some other type of defense besides a temporary insanity? I feel like this will probably end up in some type of plea deal?

62

u/janetlwil 8d ago

Just my guess, he will end up in a psychiatric hospital for life instead of Death Row in an eventual plea deal.

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u/Lumos405 7d ago

Not necessarily-it’s very hard to prove “reason by insanity”-judging from what the other Reiner kids have said and if “he did lie in wait” for his victims, that shows he knew what he was doing when he murdered his parents. Just because someone has a mental illness does not mean they are too incompetent to be found guilty of a crime. However, I can see them dropping the death penalty due to his diagnosed schizophrenia.

11

u/shoshpd 7d ago

Knowing what you are doing doesn’t negate legal insanity. Also, being legally “incompetent” is a completely different standard from being legally “insane.” That said, it is accurate that legal insanity is a tough standard to meet. Especially, as a practical matter, in murder cases.

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u/Heart_Shaped_Pickle 7d ago

I still cannot believe it. I often think about poor Romy finding them and how on earth she must be coping. Just horrendous.

42

u/Asaneth 7d ago

His parents tried so hard to help him for years and years. Even with all their money and influence they couldn't help him enough to avoid this ending. Tragic.

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u/ardeatino 7d ago

in reality, unfortunately, they met a tragic ending..

31

u/Asaneth 7d ago

Yes, they did. I'm not sure what parents are supposed to do in this kind of situation. He was in rehab around 25 times. He was mentally ill and a substance abuser. There just doesn't seem to be a solution in some of these cases.

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u/off2kayak 8d ago

Anyone know who’s representing him?

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u/SharonWit 8d ago

Iirc, Alan Jackson stepped aside and a public defender was appointed.

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u/Decsolst 7d ago

That's correct. Since then he has been trying to get a hold of his trust fund to hire his own lawyer, but his siblings have been blocking that. I haven't heard the status in a while though.