Nick Reiner Pleads Not Guilty to Murder Charges in Deaths of Parents

Nick Reiner formally denied the allegations against him in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday, entering a not guilty plea in the killings of his parents. The 32-year-old faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner.

Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty on Monday, February 23, to two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner. The plea was entered during a court appearance in Los Angeles.

Nick, 32, also waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing, and no bail was granted. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 29. He has been in custody since his arrest in December.

Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home late last year. Authorities said they were killed early on the morning of December 14 and were found later that afternoon.

In initial findings, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said that they died from “multiple sharp force injuries,” and a court order has prevented the release of additional details.

Prosecutors allege that Nick stabbed his parents in the wee hours of the morning in the master bedroom area of the family's home.

According to a family member, Nick had also been living in the property's guest house and had been arguing with his father at Conan O’Brien’s holiday party the night before his parents' murder.

Death Penalty Under Consideration

If found guilty of the charges against him, Nick faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office has not yet decided whether it will seek capital punishment.

“We take the process in which we determine whether or not the death penalty should be sought extremely seriously, and it goes through a very rigorous process,” Hochman said outside the courthouse.

“We will be looking at all aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and we have invited defense counsel to present to us, both in writing and orally in a meeting, any arguments that they would like to make in consideration for our going forward or not going forward with the death penalty.”

Nick did not enter a plea at his initial arraignment last month after his attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case. He is currently being represented by Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene.

Jackson previously said that after investigating the matter, they believe that “pursuant to the laws of this state, pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”

Mental Health History

In January, Nick’s mental health history drew attention after the New York Times reported that he had been placed in a yearlong mental health conservatorship in 2020, allowing him to be involuntarily held for psychiatric treatment. The conservatorship was not renewed in 2021.

Legal experts suggested that the prior conservatorship could become central to the defense if Nick pleads not guilty by reason of insanity.

“In order to win and not be determined guilty of murder, he has to show that he suffers from a severe mental illness, and at the time of the act, he didn't know what he was doing. He didn't know wrong from right,” said David Glass, a family law attorney and former psychologist.

Nick has previously spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction and mental health. In 2015, he co-wrote the film “Being Charlie,” loosely based on his experiences, which his father directed.

Rob and Michele Reiner had three children together — Jake, Romy, and Nick.