Rob Reiner’s son Nick charged with murder of parents | Rob Reiner
Nick Reiner’s parents, famed actor and director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer, have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Reiner, authorities announced Tuesday.
The 32-year-old man, who is being held without bail, has been in custody since Sunday evening, hours after his sister reportedly found the couple’s bodies in their Los Angeles home. Police said Sunday that the 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, Michele Singer Reiner, are shocking and tragic. We owe it to their memory to pursue justice and accountability for the lives lost,” LA district attorney Nathan Hochman said in a press release announcing the charges.
“Prosecuting cases involving domestic violence are some of the most challenging and heartbreaking we face due to the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes,” Hochman added.
The district attorney’s office charged Nick Reiner with two counts of first-degree murder, a special count of multiple counts of murder and a special allegation of use of a knife, a dangerous weapon.
Nick Reiner was not expected to appear in court Tuesday. Defense lawyer Alan Jackson told reporters his client had not received medical leave and would not attend hearings until Wednesday.
The crime sent shockwaves through Hollywood and prompted a flood of tributes, including from Barack Obama, who said the Reiners “lived lives defined by purpose.”
“Rob’s achievements in film and television have given us some of our most treasured stories on the big screen,” Obama said in a statement. “But underlying all the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.”
Rob Reiner rose to fame with his Emmy-winning performance on the 1970s sitcom All in the Family and went on to become the acclaimed director of films such as This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, and The Princess Bride, among others. Michele Singer Reiner’s works included a portrait of Donald Trump used in her book The Art of the Deal, and she also produced some 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 evening before the murders, Rob and Nick Reiner were heard arguing at a Christmas party at comedian Conan O’Brien’s home, Los Angeles Times reported. A family friend told the newspaper that Nick had been living at the family property in Brentwood and that Michele Reiner had recently become concerned about his mental health.
According to media reports, on Sunday the couple’s daughter, Romy Reiner, found their bodies and contacted the police.
The Los Angeles Police Department said Monday that officers responded to the Reiner residence in Brentwood shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday, and investigators determined he had been killed. He was located and arrested that evening after authorities determined that Nick Reiner was “responsible for their deaths.”
