Nick Reiner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents, acclaimed actor and director Rob Reiner and photographer Michelle Singer Reiner, authorities announced Tuesday.
The 32-year-old is being held without bail and has been in custody since Sunday evening, hours after his sister reportedly discovered the couple’s bodies in their Los Angeles home. Police said Sunday that a couple suffered fatal stab wounds.
“Rob Reiner was one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation. His murder and that of his wife of more than 35 years, Michelle Singer Reiner, are shocking and tragic. We owe it to their memory to seek justice and accountability for the lives taken,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a press release announcing the charges.
“Prosecuting cases involving domestic violence is one of the most difficult and heart-wrenching cases we face due to the intimate and often brutal nature of the crime,” Hochman added.
The District Attorney’s Office charged Nick Reiner with two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstances of multiple murders and a special charge of using a knife as a dangerous weapon.
Nick Reiner was not scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. Defense attorney Alan Jackson told reporters that his client does not have a medical clearance and is not expected to appear in court until Wednesday.
The crime shocked Hollywood and drew numerous tributes, including from President Barack Obama, who said the Reiners had “lived a life of purpose.”
“Rob’s legacy in film and television has brought some of our most important stories to the screen,” President Obama said in a statement. “But underlying every story he created was a deep belief in human goodness and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.”
“They will be forever missed,” friends of Rob and Michelle Reiner wrote in a joint letter.
The letter is signed by Billy and Janice Crystal, Albert and Kimberly Brooks, Martin Short, Alan and Robin Zweibel, Larry David and Ashley Underwood, Marc Shaiman and Lou Mirabal, Barry and Diana Levinson, and Ambassador James Kostos and Michael Smith.
“Rob was also a passionate and courageous citizen who not only cared about the country he loved, but did everything he could to improve it, and in his beloved wife Michele, he had the perfect partner,” the letter said. “Strong and determined, Michelle and Rob Reiner dedicated much of their lives to the betterment of our fellow citizens.”
Rob Reiner rose to fame with his Emmy Award-winning performance in the 1970s sitcom All in the Family and went on to become a prominent director of films such as This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, and The Princess Bride, among others. Michelle Singer Reiner’s work includes a portrait of Donald Trump that was used in her book, The Art of the Deal, and she has also produced several of her husband’s films. Rob and Nick Reiner collaborated on a 2015 film about the now 32-year-old’s struggles with addiction and homelessness.
The couple were also prominent supporters of liberal political causes. Rob Reiner has long been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, and Trump’s comments about the couple’s deaths sparked outrage.
The night before the murder, Rob and Nick Reiner were heard arguing at a Christmas party at comedian Conan O’Brien’s home, the Los Angeles Times reported. A family friend told the newspaper that Nick lived on the family’s property in Brentwood and that Michelle Reiner had recently become concerned about his mental health.
According to media reports, the couple’s daughter Romy Reiner discovered the bodies on Sunday and called police.
The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement Monday that officers were dispatched to Reiner’s residence in Brentwood just before 4 p.m. Sunday, and investigators determined the person had been murdered. Nick Reiner was found and arrested that night, as authorities determined he was “responsible for their deaths.”
Maanvi Singh contributed to the report
