What we know so far
• Two murder charges will be filed this afternoon against Nick Reiner, the son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced today. The 32-year-old also faces a special allegation of using “a dangerous and deadly weapon — that being a knife,” Hochman said.
• Los Angeles police previous said Nick Reiner is “responsible” for the deaths of his parents. He was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held without bail. He’s set to appear in court at some point after the charges are filed.
• Celebrities have been paying tribute to Reiner — whose prolific work included directing “When Harry Met Sally,” “The Princess Bride” and “A Few Good Men” — as President Donald Trump doubled down on criticism of him in remarks denounced by lawmakers and stars alike.
The Reiners' daughter who found their bodies lived across the street, source says
The Reiners’ daughter Romy lived across the street from their home, and went to check on her parents around 3 p.m. local time Sunday when she discovered their bodies, according to an individual close to the situation.
Romy Reiner left the home, found a friend who was staying with her and told her to call 911, the individual said.
Detectives, speaking to family members, learned the Reiners’ son Nick had been staying at the guest house on the property and was not present when law enforcement arrived. They also learned of his history of drug addiction and of an argument that occurred between Nick Reiner and his parents at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party the night before, according to the individual.
Officials just revealed new details on the Reiner homicide case. Here’s what we learned
Officials just provided new details on the death investigation of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, producer Michele Singer Reiner.
Here’s what we learned:
Murder charges to come: The couple’s son, Nick Reiner, is accused of killing his parents and will face two counts of first degree murder, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. The charges, which will be filed this afternoon, carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole or the death penalty. The case, Hochman explained, rises to the level of “special circumstances” because of the multiple murders alleged, and Nick Reiner also will face a special allegation for allegedly using a knife, which is considered “a dangerous and deadly weapon.”
On the death penalty: No decision has been made on whether or not prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Nick Reiner, Hochman said. He mentioned that the District Attorney’s Office will take the “thoughts and desires of the family into consideration” when making that decision.
More details on the fatal incident: Police responded to the death investigation on Sunday in Brentwood, where they entered a residence and discovered the Reiners’ bodies, according to LA Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell. The evidence gathered by authorities resulted in the arrest of the couple’s son, who was taken into custody that night, McDonnell added. McDonnell also said investigators are not sure yet if the murders occurred on Saturday night or Sunday, which matters because the timing could impact how the case is prosecuted.
Finding Nick Reiner: Nick Reiner was found thanks to tools used by the LA police department’s robbery homicide unit, gang narcotics detectives and a US Marshals Service task force, McDonnell said. He was found in a public area of LA’s Exposition Park neighborhood near the University of Southern California campus and did not resist arrest, according to LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton. Officials are not sharing if family members provided information that led to Nick Reiner’s arrest, Hamilton said.
A “heart-wrenching” case: Officials commented on the “heart-wrenching” nature of the incident, with Hochman saying that prosecuting cases involving family members are among “the most challenging.” McDonnell said the case is “heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones, but for our entire city.”
CNN’s Elise Hammond, Aditi Sangal, Cindy Von Quednow, Taylor Romine contributed reporting.
Nick Reiner had been living in parents' guest house
Nick Reiner had been living at the Reiner residence in a guest house separate from the main structure, according to an individual close to the situation.
Some background: Reiner himself talked about living at the guest house previously while he was doing drugs. In a 2018 episode of “Dopey,” a podcast about addiction and recovery, Reiner told the hosts about an outburst he had after he was “sequestered” in his parents’ guest house, which led to an argument.
“I got totally spun out on uppers, I think it was coke and something else, and I was up for days on end, and I started punching out different things in my guest house,” Reiner said.
CNN’s Chelsea Bailey and Karina Tsui contributed reporting to this post.
It’s not clear yet what day the murders happened, police chief says
Investigators are not sure yet if the murders occurred on Saturday night or Sunday, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said.
“We are waiting on the coroner to be able and to try and determine as best they can time of death,” he said.
Why it matters: Nick Reiner was seen having an argument with his father, Rob Reiner, at a holiday party Saturday night at Conan O’Brien’s Los Angeles home, according to a source familiar with the incident.
The timing could impact how the case is prosecuted.
DA’s office will consider family's wishes when deciding on death penalty, Hochman says
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will take the “thoughts and desires of the family into consideration” when deciding whether to pursue the death penalty against Nick Reiner, DA Nathan Hochman said.
He said that is the course of action taken in any death penalty case.
However, even if prosecutors do pursue the death penalty in the case against Reiner and secure a conviction, he would not be executed because a moratorium on the practice in California was instituted via an executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019.
That could change when a new governor is elected in the 2026 election.
LAPD not disclosing if family shared information that led to Nick Reiner’s arrest
Officials are not sharing if family members provided information that led to Nick Reiner’s arrest, said Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton.
“As we move forward, that information will be discussed in the appropriate venue, which would be the court,” he said.
Nick Reiner was found with help from US Marshals Service, LAPD chief says
Nick Reiner was found thanks to “good, solid police work,” and “investigative tools” used by the Los Angeles Police Department’s robbery homicide unit and gang narcotics detectives, Chief Jim McDonnell said.
A US Marshals Service task force was also involved in the suspect being taken into custody.
The chief declined to elaborate on the arrest to avoid tainting the investigation, he said.
Reiner was found in a public area of LA’s Exposition Park neighborhood near the University of Southern California campus, LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said.
Reiner did not resist arrest or try to run away, Hamilton added. “He was taken into custody without issue.”
Nick Reiner's mental health could come up in court down the road
Nick Reiner’s mental health could come up during upcoming hearings, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
After the arraignment, “if there is evidence of mental illness, it will presented in court and in whatever detail the defense seeks to do that,” Hochman said.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell declined to answer when asked whether Reiner was under the influence at the time of his arrest.
Some context: Nick Reiner has previously said he’s had numerous stints in rehab and at times been homeless. He’s also spoken about arguments he had with his parents while in the throes of addiction.
Police found bodies on responding to a call about deaths on Sunday in Brentwood, LA police chief says
On Sunday, Los Angeles Police officers responded to a death investigation at the 200 block of South Chadbourne Avenue in Brentwood, according to LA Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell.
“Upon entering the residence, they discovered the bodies of Mr. And Mrs. Reiner. Detectives from our robbery homicide division homicide special section immediately initiated a comprehensive investigation.”
Evidence that authorities gathered resulted in the arrest of the couple’s son Nick Reiner, McDonnell said. He was taken into custody that night, he added.
“This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones, but for our entire city,” McDonnell said. “We extend our deepest condolences to all of those who are affected by this tragedy.”
LA district attorney warns against trusting rumors and speculation in case
As the case unfolds, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman warns the public to not trust rumors or speculation in the media, and instead rely on trusted sources.
“If it doesn’t come from the district attorney’s office, from LAPD, from the coroner’s office or from the court room itself, then there is a good chance you are hearing misinformation,” he said.
The "multiple murders" make this a "special circumstances" case, DA says
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman explained the case involving the deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner rises to the level of “special circumstances.”
Here’s how he explains it: For a first-degree murder case to be elevated to a “special circumstance first-degree murder case,” one of the enumerated factors has to occur.
Prosecuting cases involving family members is “challenging” and “heart-wrenching,” Hochman says
Cases that involve family members are among “the most challenging and the most heart-wrenching” that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office prosecutes, DA Nathan Hochman said.
That’s due to the “intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes involved,” Hochman said.
Charges against Nick Reiner will be filed this afternoon, district attorney says
Charges in death of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner will be filed this afternoon, and the suspect in the case, the couple’s son Nick Reiner, will then appear in court, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
Nick Reiner is being held without bail, Hochman said.
“Once the charges get filed this afternoon, Nick Reiner will be then brought to court. He is going through medical clearance,” which is standard procedure, he added.
It is unclear whether Nick Reiner’s court appearance will happen today.
Los Angeles district attorney announces criminal charges against Nick Reiner, including use of a knife
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced two counts of first degree murder against Nick Reiner, who is accused of killing his parents.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole or the death penalty. Hochman said no decision has been made if prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
“He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon — that being a knife,” Hochman said.
This post has been updated with more information from Hochman.
NOW: Officials are holding news conference about the Reiner case
Los Angeles officials are now holding a news conference on the killings of Bob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
You can watch it live on the video at the top of this page.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and police Chief Jim McDonnell are expected to be giving an update.
Nick Reiner, the son of Rob and Michele Singer Reiner, is being held without bond. He did not make a court appearance earlier today. His attorney said he was not cleared to be transported to the courthouse.
Prosecutors have also not yet formally announced criminal charges.
Prosecutor will provide details on Reiner homicide case
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and police Chief Jim McDonnell will hold a news conference this afternoon to detail on the case involving the killings of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner.
The news conference will be held at 4 p.m. ET.
Authorities provided no specifics about the news conference, including whether Nick Reiner, the couple’s son being held without bail on suspicion of murder, has been charged.
Nick Reiner’s attorney said he has not been medically cleared yet to be transported to the courthouse.
What we know about the high-profile Los Angeles attorney representing Nick Reiner
LA-based attorney Alan Jackson — who has taken on a number of famous clients in his work as a defense attorney — says he is now representing Nick Reiner following his arrest in the murder of his parents.
Jackson said it was not clear when a first court appearance for Reiner would take place.
“You have to be medically cleared to be transported to the courthouse, and he has not,” Jackson said.
A former Los Angeles prosecutor who unsuccessfully ran to be district attorney in 2012, Jackson has since focused on defending a number of controversial clients.
His most recent success in court came in defense of Karen Read, who in June was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, in 2022. Jackson argued investigators exhibited “blatant bias” that tainted the case.
The verdict resulted in a feature profile in Vanity Fair for Jackson, and his firm’s website maintains a section dedicated to press coverage of the case.
Jackson represented Kevin Spacey in a 2019 sexual assault case in Massachusetts. The charge was dropped by prosecutors “due to the unavailability of the complaining witness,” a court filing said.
In Hollywood, Jackson is best known for defending Harvey Weinstein against rape and sexual assault charges, ending in conviction and a 16-year sentence. Jackson argued some accusers had been involved in a “transactional relationship” with Weinstein.
When it comes to his new client, Jackson declined to tell reporters how he became associated with the case or who would be paying his fees.
“I can’t comment,” said Jackson.
Nick Reiner has not been medically cleared to be transported to courthouse, attorney says
Nick Reiner, the son of Rob and Michele Singer Reiner, will not be making a court appearance today, his attorney, Alan Jackson, said.
Jackson confirmed to CNN that there will not be a hearing in the case today. Los Angeles police said he is “responsible” for the deaths of his parents. He is currently being held without bail.
Reiner has not yet been medically cleared to be transported from the jail where he’s being held to the courthouse, Jackson said, and that it’s “day to day” on when he will appear. The jail is about a mile away.
Jackson did not elaborate on why Reiner was not cleared. The US Marshals Service had said it located and arrested Reiner “without incident” on Sunday.
Prosecutors put together a charging document based on evidence provided by the police, but have not announced criminal charges.
His attorney would not comment on whether the family hired him or if he has met with Reiner.
This post has been updated with additional information.
What are the next legal steps for Nick Reiner?
We are still waiting on an announcement from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office on potential charges against Nick Reiner, the son of Rob and Michele Reiner who is being held on suspicion of murder in their deaths. Here is what is expected to happen next in his case, according to a law enforcement official speaking to CNN:
- Prosecutors put together a charging document based on evidence provided by the police. That document may describe evidence the district attorney is able to release publicly.
- In Reiner’s very high profile case, a press conference announcing the charges is expected.
- Reiner’s first court appearance is expected after charges are officially filed. Reiner’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson, told CNN that he does not expect a hearing today because his client has not been medically cleared to be transported from jail to the courthouse.
- Within 14 days, there would be a preliminary hearing where the judge will determine if there is enough evidence to take the case to its next step. Such hearings frequently include putting witnesses on the stand and presenting evidence. The time frame can be shortened at the request of the defense, which can also choose to waive the preliminary hearing entirely.
CNN’s Norma Galeana contributed to this report.
CNN's Anderson Cooper discusses how he wants to remember Rob Reiner
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who is a self-professed “huge fan” of Rob Reiner’s mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap,” has paid tribute to the legendary director.
Watch him reflect on his most recent interaction with Reiner:
CNN's Anderson Cooper remembers legendary film director Rob Reiner, reminiscing on his interviewing with Reiner about one of his favourite films "This is Spinal Tap." Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their home on Sunday and their son Nick has been arrested in connection with their deaths.
