In the days leading up to the brutal killings of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, their son Nick exhibited a stark and unsettling change in behaviour, according to staff at a local gas station the family frequented. Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested on Monday and now faces two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly fatally stabbing his parents inside their Brentwood mansion.
A Grisly Discovery and Immediate Arrest
The couple were discovered dead in their multi-million pound home, their throats slit in what authorities described as a horrific scene. Their bodies were found by their daughter, Romy Reiner, who immediately told investigators her brother was 'dangerous' and should be considered a suspect. Police sources indicated the pair had likely been dead for several hours, already in a state of rigor mortis. Nick Reiner was swiftly arrested outside an LA Metro station and is currently being held without bail on suicide watch.
Witnesses Report a Dramatic Shift in Demeanour
Employees at a Sinclair gas station in Brentwood, where the Reiners were regulars, told TMZ they noticed a profound difference in Nick in the days before the murders. One worker, who claimed to have known him for roughly 15 years, said he appeared 'drained,' 'tired,' and 'unusually standoffish' during a visit about two weeks prior. This was a marked departure from his normally sociable and engaging manner.
Staff emphasised that during this encounter, he did not seem impaired by drugs or alcohol, simply buying his usual pack of Marlboro Lights. The change was particularly striking as, just months earlier, he had been chatty and friendly. This observation stands in stark contrast to his father's public optimism. In a resurfaced September interview on NPR's Fresh Air, Rob Reiner stated his son was 'in a really good place' and had been sober for over six years, despite a documented history of substance abuse and homelessness.
Tensions at a Holiday Party Precede the Killings
The night before the bodies were discovered, Nick had attended a celebrity holiday party hosted by Conan O'Brien with his parents. His behaviour there also raised alarms. Guests noted he was dressed in casual clothes amidst a black-tie crowd and reportedly got into a clash with comedian Bill Hader. According to a source, Nick interrupted Hader and, when asked to stop, stared angrily before storming off, unnerving other attendees. He was also heard arguing loudly with his father.
After leaving the party, Nick checked into the Pierside Santa Monica hotel. There, staff later made a chilling discovery: a shower 'full of blood' and a trail of blood leading to his bedroom, with a bedsheet covering the window. A source close to the investigation told the Daily Mail the parents may have been asleep in bed when they were attacked, possibly on Saturday night after returning from the party.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Hollywood community. Nick Reiner, who co-wrote the 2015 film Being Charlie with his father—a project loosely based on his own rehab experiences—now faces a potential sentence of life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.
