Esteemed journalist Maria Shriver has issued a profoundly moving tribute following the violent deaths of her close friends, legendary director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner. The couple were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home over the weekend, with their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, subsequently arrested in connection with the tragedy.
A Devastating Loss for a Close-Knit Circle
In a heartfelt statement shared on social media, the 70-year-old Shriver remembered the slain couple as devoted parents and unwavering optimists. The grim discovery was made at the Reiners' $13.5 million Brentwood mansion on Sunday afternoon, sending shockwaves through their community and Hollywood at large.
"I loved Michele and Rob Reiner. They were among my closest friends," Shriver wrote. "We raised our kids together, from mommy and me on up. We laughed together, we cried together, we played together, we dreamed together."
Shriver revealed the families had enjoyed a dinner together just days before the tragedy, noting the couple were in a positive place. "They were in the best place in their lives: loving one another, loving their friends, their family, their country," she stated.
Son Arrested as Police Confirm Responsibility
Nick Reiner, 32, was taken into custody on suspicion of murder shortly after the bodies of his 78-year-old father and 68-year-old mother were discovered. On Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed in a statement that Nick is "responsible" for their deaths.
He is currently being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility. According to earlier reports, the couple's daughter, Romy Reiner, 28, who lives nearby, found her parents' bodies and alerted the authorities.
A law enforcement source told the Associated Press that investigators believe the couple died from fatal stab wounds. The LAPD's robbery-homicide division is leading the ongoing investigation, and a motive has not been publicly disclosed.
Remembering a Life of Love and Patriotism
In her tribute, Shriver passionately highlighted the couple's character and commitments. "They never gave up on our country. They wanted to make it better," she wrote, praising their desire to improve the world. Of their parenting, she added, "They loved their kids so much, and they never stopped trying to be really good parents."
Shriver concluded with a poignant hope for their legacy: "I hope people remember them as two deeply talented, kind, fun, loving, good, patriotic people who loved each other deeply."
The post prompted an outpouring of support from friends and the public. Bruce Willis's wife, Emma Heming, and Shriver's own son, Patrick Schwarzenegger, were among those offering condolences.
Nick Reiner has previously spoken publicly about struggles with substance abuse. In a 2018 podcast, he described a destructive incident while under the influence of drugs. The Reiner family, which also includes son Jake, 34, and Rob's adopted daughter Tracy Reiner, 61, has requested privacy during this "unbelievably difficult time."
