Nick Reiner, 32, is to be charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his parents, film director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, the Los Angeles district attorney has said. Nathan Hochman announced that the charges could carry the death penalty, citing a special circumstance of multiple murders and the use of a deadly weapon or knife.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Hochman said the charges would be officially filed later that day, with Nick Reiner to be arraigned after being medically cleared for transfer from jail. Los Angeles police chief Jim McDonnell described the case as 'heartbreaking and deeply personal' for the city, but stressed that charges are not equivalent to evidence, which would be presented in court to meet the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Nick Reiner was taken into custody on Sunday night, hours after his parents were found dead in their Brentwood home. Police responded to a death investigation at 3.40pm local time on 14 December, discovering two victims later identified as Rob and Michele. The initial investigation determined the deaths were homicides and revealed that Nick was responsible. He was arrested without bail at 9.15pm and booked for murder.
Nick Reiner had previously struggled with addiction and mental health issues, and co-wrote a screenplay based on his experiences that his father directed in 2015. A family friend said Nick was living at the family property and his mother had recently expressed concerns about his mental state. The evening before the killings, Rob and Nick were reportedly heard arguing at a Christmas party hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien.
