Nick Reiner Pleads Not Guilty to Murders of Rob Reiner, Michele Reiner

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Nick Reiner is maintaining his innocence.  

The 32-year-old man pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder during a court appearance in Los Angeles on February 23rd. The charges relate to the deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, in December, and include the special circumstance of multiple murders.

Nick appeared in court looking clean-shaven, though he was handcuffed and wearing a brown jail uniform, according to reporters from MS Now. He was represented by public defender Kimberly Greene, who took over the case after Alan Jackson resigned last month.

A preliminary hearing has been set for April 29. 

The writer of Being Charlie is speaking out after his former lawyer, known for representing Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, dropped the case. According to the New York Times, the lawyer said he felt he had no other option but to withdraw.

“Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder,” he said at the time. “Print that.”

Following developments in Nick’s case, the Reiner family released a statement to TopMob News saying they are confident in the legal system and will not be making any further public comments about the ongoing proceedings.

On December 14th, Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, were discovered dead at their home in Los Angeles. The same day, Nick was arrested by the LAPD and charged with their murders on December 16th. During a press conference, District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that Nick would also be accused of using a knife as the deadly weapon in the crime.

After their father, Rob Reiner, passed away, his children – Jake Reiner, 34, and Romy Reiner, 28 – and half-sister Tracy Reiner, from his marriage to Penny Marshall, shared their sadness.

In a statement to NBC News on December 17th, Jake and Romy described their pain as unbearable following the tragic loss of their parents, Rob and Michele Reiner. They shared that their parents were not only family, but also their closest friends, and that no one should have to endure such a devastating loss.

Following her father’s death, Tracy told NBC News she was at a loss for words, but shared that she came “from the greatest family ever.”

For everything to know about the Reiner case, keep reading… 

(TopMob News and MS Now are both part of the Versant Media family.)

Long before Rob and Michele Singer Reiner sadly passed away, their son, Nick Reiner, openly discussed 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 recounted experiencing homelessness in multiple states – Maine, New Jersey, and Texas. He described spending nights and weeks living on the streets, stating it was a difficult time.

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

He described an incident from 2018 on the Dopey podcast, explaining that he spent ten rounds sparring in his guest house while heavily influenced by stimulants—likely cocaine and another substance. He was awake for days and ended up punching objects in the room.

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

Steven Baer, the court-appointed representative responsible for managing the individual’s affairs, told the New York Times that mental illness is a widespread and often misunderstood problem, calling the situation a terrible tragedy. He did not offer any additional details.

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 disturbances at the party by 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 well and cheerful. She added that she is devastated and shocked by the news.

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 who were later identified as Robert and Michele Reiner.

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.

Rob and Michele didn’t die from natural causes; they appear to have been stabbed, according to a source close to the Reiner family who spoke with NBC News.

After a first look at the evidence, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that the Reiners had been murdered.

While the police were looking into the situation, video footage showed Nick purchasing a Gatorade at an ARCO gas station in downtown Los Angeles, close to USC, around 9 p.m. on December 14th. He was wearing a green jacket, jeans, and a baseball cap, and carrying a red backpack, according to footage obtained by MS NOW.

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 the arrest of 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.

On the December 15th episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Michelle Obama shared 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 Alan Jackson, a criminal defense attorney known for representing high-profile clients like 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.

Okay, so I was totally glued to the news today, waiting for them to officially charge Nick, and his lawyer just said something that’s killing me! Apparently, he’s… he’s not even well enough to go to court! Like, seriously? They said he hasn’t been ‘medically cleared.’ What does that mean?! Is he okay? I just need to know he’s alright, even if he is facing charges. It’s just… I’m so worried about him right now!

According to reports, officials stated that all inmates require medical approval before being taken to court. They are optimistic that the individual in question will receive this clearance 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, and will also pursue a special circumstance allegation due to multiple deaths.

The District Attorney also stated that Nick will be charged with using a deadly weapon – a knife – 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.

According to a press release on December 16th, the district attorney stated the murders happened around dawn on 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 gown designed to prevent self-harm and was in restraints. He didn’t enter a plea at that time, but scheduled an arraignment for January 7th.

On December 17th, the medical examiner concluded that both Rob and Michele died from multiple cuts or stab wounds – injuries caused by a sharp object.

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.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m often asked about handling difficult situations with grace, and that’s what I’m seeing from the Reiner family right now. They recently shared with TopMob News that they’re fully confident in the legal system and, understandably, won’t be discussing the details of their ongoing case publicly. It’s a smart move to maintain privacy and let things unfold as they should.

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2026-02-23 20:49