Daijiworld Media Network – Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Dec 17: Nick Reiner, the younger son of legendary actor-director Rob Reiner and noted photographer-producer Michele Singer Reiner, has been charged with killing his parents, authorities said on Tuesday.
Nick Reiner (32) has been charged with two counts of murder, along with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and use of a deadly weapon, according to court documents. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
“Rob Reiner was a brilliant actor and director, an iconic force in our entertainment industry for decades,” Hochman said in a statement, describing Michele Singer Reiner as “an equally iconic photographer and producer”. “Their loss is beyond tragic, and we will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice,” he added.
Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, said his client was not medically cleared to appear in court on Tuesday, citing “procedural” reasons without elaborating. Court records indicate that Nick Reiner was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday morning, though the district attorney’s office said the arraignment would take place at a later, yet-to-be-announced date.
Nick Reiner was arrested on Monday near Exposition Park, close to the University of Southern California, and taken into custody without incident, Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters. He is currently being held without bail.
Rob Reiner (78) and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Brentwood home on Sunday. Police said their bodies, bearing stab wounds, were discovered in the master bedroom of the residence. Assistant Police Chief Dominic Choi confirmed the details during the police department’s weekly commission meeting.
Nick Reiner has previously spoken publicly about his long battle with addiction, which began during his teenage years. In a 2016 interview with People magazine, he revealed that he had struggled with heroin and other drugs, spent time in and out of rehabilitation centres, and even lived on the streets for weeks.
His experiences later inspired the 2016 film Being Charlie, which Nick Reiner co-wrote and which was directed by his father. The film centres on a young man grappling with addiction and the challenges of recovery.
The investigation into the killings is ongoing.