Nick Reiner Placed in Conservatorship Years Before Parents’ Murders

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More details have come to light about Nick Reiner‘s mental health battle.

The 32-year-old man accused of murdering his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, was under a court-ordered mental health arrangement from 2020 to 2021, according to two sources who spoke with The New York Times.

As a longtime follower, I was so relieved to hear directly from the Los Angeles Superior Court that the conservatorship was officially over back in 2021. I’ve reached out to the court myself to try and get more details, but haven’t received a response yet.

Steven Baer, the court-appointed conservator for Nick and a professional who manages the affairs of others, told the New York Times that mental illness is a widespread and often misunderstood problem, calling the situation a “horrible tragedy.” He did not offer any further details.

Nick was placed under a conservatorship through the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, a 1967 law. According to The New York Times, these conservatorships usually start either with a doctor’s recommendation or after someone is involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

In California, the courts explain that mental health conservatorships are intended for individuals with severe mental illness who require ongoing, specialized care. It’s important to know that family members or private citizens can’t initiate this process; usually, it’s started by the treatment team at the hospital or facility where the person is being cared for.

Nick explained that his parents didn’t know how to support him when he was going through a tough time as a teenager.

He explained to Entertainment Tonight that he didn’t speak to either person because they didn’t believe anything he said. However, talking to his mother was somewhat reassuring, as she was better at understanding and expressing her feelings about the situation.

I still can’t believe it… Nick, arrested in December 2025! They’re saying he actually did it – stabbed Rob and Michele, right in their own home here in Los Angeles. First-degree murder, and not just one count, but two! They’re calling it multiple murders, which… it’s just awful. He hasn’t said if he’s guilty or not yet, but honestly, the details are terrifying. I’ve been following this case obsessively, and it’s just… heartbreaking. I keep replaying everything in my head, trying to understand how someone could do something like this to them.

Nick has openly shared his long-standing battle with substance abuse, which started in his teens and resulted in 18 trips to rehab. In 2015, he collaborated with his father to create the film Being Charlie, a partly fictionalized story about a father helping his son overcome addiction.

Rob explained to Entertainment Tonight in 2016 that the film shows his character admitting he often took advice from anyone who seemed authoritative, even when he didn’t know what he was doing. Rob said he’s made similar mistakes, often ignoring his own instincts, and that he understands his son, Nick, better than any outside expert could.

The director of This is Spinal Tap later admitted he wished he’d dealt with Nick’s addiction differently in the past.

I should have trusted my gut when it came to Nick, and things would have gone better. But you do what you think is right – you want to protect him, so you follow the advice you’re given, even if it feels like you have no other choice. Honestly, after everything, I don’t believe this should be about punishment. If someone is going through a hard time, you shouldn’t punish them for it. A lot of these programs feel like they are punishing kids, and I don’t think that’s a helpful approach.

Nick explained that his parents didn’t know how to support him when he was going through a difficult time as a teenager.

He explained to Entertainment Tonight that he didn’t speak to either person because they didn’t believe anything he said. However, talking to his mother was somewhat reassuring, as she was better at understanding and expressing her feelings about the situation.

In December 2025, Nick was arrested and charged with the first-degree murders of Rob and Michele. Prosecutors allege he stabbed them to death at their home in Los Angeles. He hasn’t yet responded to the charges in court.

Read on for a closer look at the Reiners’ murder case.

Long before Rob and Michele Singer Reiner sadly passed away, their son, Nick Reiner, spoke openly about his own battles with addiction. He even worked with his father on the 2015 film Being Charlie, which explored the topic of substance abuse.

Nick explained that he had been to rehab 18 times before turning 30. 

In a 2016 interview with People magazine, he shared that he had experienced homelessness in three different states: Maine, New Jersey, and Texas. He described living on the streets for nights and even weeks at a time, saying it was a difficult experience.

Two years later, Nick recalled an instance when he “wrecked” his home while high on drugs. 

He explained on the Dopey podcast in 2018 that he had a difficult experience with drugs. He said he was high – likely on cocaine and another stimulant – for days and ended up damaging things in his guest house, even punching objects repeatedly for ten rounds, as he put it.

According to sources who spoke with The New York Times, Nick was under a court-ordered mental health conservatorship from 2020 until 2021. A Los Angeles Superior Court clerk verified with the publication that the conservatorship ended in 2021.

Steven Baer, the court-appointed conservator and a licensed fiduciary, told the New York Times that mental illness is a widespread and often misunderstood problem, calling the situation a “horrible tragedy.” He did not offer any additional comments.

According to multiple sources at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party on December 13, 2025, the director of When Harry Met Sally and his 32-year-old son had a significant argument. Friends of the family later confirmed to the L.A. Times that Rob and Nick fought at the party, and that guests had observed Nick behaving oddly.

According to two sources familiar with the event, Nick was causing a disturbance at the party by repeatedly interrupting people’s conversations.

Jane Fonda saw Rob and Michele the night before their tragic deaths.

The actress shared on Instagram on December 15th that she had seen them two nights prior, and they seemed healthy and happy. She added that she is devastated and in shock.

On December 14th, around 3:40 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department investigated a death at a home in Brentwood, California, following a call they received the day after a Christmas party.

According to a statement from the LAPD, officers found two people inside the home, later identified as Robert and Michele Reiner.

Detectives with the Robbery-Homicide Division’s Homicide Special Section began investigating how the deaths occurred.

According to NBC News, Deputy Police Chief Alan Hamilton stated that investigators will be speaking with many family members. Rob Reiner and his wife have three children: Nick, Romy, and Jake. Rob also adopted the daughter of his late ex-wife, Penny Marshall, named Tracy Reiner.

Investigators have concluded that Rob and Michele Reiner didn’t die from natural causes. A source with the Reiner family told NBC News that they likely died from stab wounds.

According to the LAPD, the initial investigation revealed that the Reiners were victims of homicide.

Footage obtained by MS NOW shows Nick buying a Gatorade at an ARCO gas station in downtown Los Angeles, near USC, around 9 p.m. on December 14th. He was wearing a green jacket, jeans, and a ballcap, and was carrying a red backpack, all while police were investigating the case.

Minutes later, the screenwriter was taken into custody near USC.

Los Angeles police determined that Rob and Michele’s son caused their deaths.

Police announced they arrested Nick Reiner around 9:15 p.m. on December 15th. He has been charged with murder and is being held in jail without the possibility of bail.

Michelle Obama shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on December 15th that she and Barack Obama had plans to meet with Rob and Michele on the day they tragically passed away.

On December 16th, TopMob News confirmed that attorney Alan Jackson—known for previously defending Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and Karen Read—has been hired to represent Nick, who was arrested two days prior in connection with his parents’ murder.

On December 16th, as authorities were preparing to publicly charge Nick at a Los Angeles courthouse, his lawyer informed the press that he hadn’t been given medical approval to appear in court.

According to reports, the official stated that all inmates require medical clearance before being taken to court. He expressed hope that the inmate in question would receive this clearance by tomorrow, allowing for his transport.

On December 16th, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that his office will charge Nick with two counts of first-degree murder, alleging that more than one person was killed.

The District Attorney also stated that Nick will be charged with an additional allegation: that he used a knife – a dangerous weapon – during the attack on his parents.

He explained that if convicted, the maximum punishment could be life in prison with no chance of release, or even the death penalty.

Nick was formally charged Dec. 16. 

Police believe Rob and Michele were likely killed about 12 hours before their bodies were found around 3 p.m. on December 14th.

As a close follower of this case, I learned from the District Attorney’s statement on December 16th that the murders happened around the very early morning of December 14th.

According to a press release from the District Attorney on December 16th, Nick is accused of killing his parents by stabbing them. Authorities allege he used a knife as the weapon in the murders.

Nick made his first court appearance on December 17th at the Los Angeles Supreme Court. He was wearing a blue garment designed to prevent self-harm and was in shackles. He didn’t enter a plea at this time, but scheduled an arraignment hearing for January 7th.

On December 17th, the medical examiner concluded that both Rob and Michele died from multiple cuts or stab wounds.

During a court appearance on January 7, 2026, Nick’s lawyer, Alan Jackson, informed the court he was no longer representing him. Nick will now be represented by a public defender, according to a reporter from MS NOW who was present.

The Reiner family released a statement to TopMob News saying they are confident in the legal system and won’t be making any further comments about the ongoing case.

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2026-01-16 04:18