CA - Murder victims Identified as Rob Reiner and wife Michele - LA Dec 14 2025

[Cindizzi]

Reporter B.E. Posted this 5 hours ago.
Wonder why AJ was at the home .

https://twitter.com/x/status/2001026105718018358

 

[avalonisland]

Sounds like Nick checked into motel at 4am prior to killing his parents, as blood was not seen at check in but housekeeper discovered in shower next day of checkout. If so, premeditated. Why RR would bring his troubled 32 year old so with history of drugs, antisocial, and mental illness to a celebrity party is just weird and not appropriate in my opinion unless CO host invited NR to party.

 

[avalonisland]

Voluntary Manslaughter - Definition, Examples, Cases

Voluntary Manslaughter defined and explained with examples. Voluntary manslaughter is the intentional killing of another person with no prior intent to harm or kill.

legaldictionary.net

first-degree murder

www.law.cornell.edu

Voluntary manslaughter is a crime that occurs when someone kills another person with no prior intent to harm or kill, but under a sudden circumstance that made him mentally or emotionally distraught.

If, as you say in your post, they might have been murdered in bed asleep, that changes it to premeditated first degree murder.

So yes, where they were found murdered is an important question.

Was there a struggle when all 3 were awake and this was spur of the moment not planned? Or did the son plan ahead - planning under the cover of darkness - to sneak in and stab them while they slept in bed?

2 Cents

Not necessarily. Per that article, he wasn't observed to have any blood on him when he checked in at 4am. So maybe he checked in, then left, went to the Reiner home and committed the murders (ie 5 or 6am) and then returned to the hotel to clean up. Then obviously left again (unless that's where he was arrested)

This sounds like what happened! Maybe he checked in to hotel to do drugs or something 4am to let off steam and when he went home, he could not get access to his guesthouse and altercation with parents happened or something. He killed parents then back to hotel to shower and bolt. Seems like his dad was codependent and his son under his control of food, shelter, social scene. In watching video interviews of father-son, it seems like son could barely get a word in. But son chose to stay with parents and parents chose to have son stay and socialize with them even though he was clearly a drug addicted with mental problems and possibly violence tendencies per son during one of interview.

 

[LinasK]

Sounds like Nick checked into motel at 4am prior to killing his parents, as blood was not seen at check in but housekeeper discovered in shower next day of checkout. If so, premeditated. Why RR would bring his troubled 32 year old so with history of drugs, antisocial, and mental illness to a celebrity party is just weird and not appropriate in my opinion unless CO host invited NR to party.

I think it was to make sure that Nick wasn't doing drugs at home while they were at the party.

 

[BUF]

Reporter B.E. Posted this 5 hours ago.
Wonder why AJ was at the home .

https://twitter.com/x/status/2001026105718018358

To see if he could check out the crime scene?

 

[avalonisland]

Maybe they had a will as well. My Father did and left sister out thank goodness. She too was into drugs and died from that. What a waste of life she was. I’m a hard azz, have no sympathy for losers.
Just the way I am.

Jm

I am curious to know about the timing of the murders—I am guessing that it occurred in the early AM hours of Sunday following the public incident at Conan O’Brien’s party. Certainly, it’d be easiest to attack and kill two individuals with a bladed object while they were sleeping in bed, as opposed to when they were up and alert and moving about the house, capable of calling for help or even of attempting to flee.
Given that the murderer may have still been living in his parents’ guest house, as he evidently was for some period in the preceding years, I picture the family returning to their residence post-party, and then the elder Reiners turned in for the night while their miscreant son just waited in the guest house for their lights to go out before springing into action.
In addition for the tremendous sympathy I feel for the Reiners’ other children, I also feel badly for the Reiners’ friends and colleagues who must be grieving deeply—in particular, I worry about the emotional toll this will take on the wonderful but quite elderly Mel Brooks, longtime BFF of Carl Reiner and, I presume, a close friend of Rob and Michele R. as well. I don’t know if my heart could handle the loss of another true mensch and giant of American culture on the heels of this abysmal week of world events.

I agree with you but NR did not appear to be bloody when he checked in to motel at 4am using credit card.

 

[Arkay]

Bill Hader breaks cover after tense chat with Nick Reiner

The comedian looked tense while pacing back and forth during a phone call in Los Angeles, as he was pictured for the first time since his tense chat with Rob Reiner's son Nick Reiner.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Bill Hader’s reaction, at least according to the DM.

Very upset of course, and allegedly does not want any focus on whatever tiff he had with Nick at the party.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

Seems like his dad was codependent

Where is this coming from? I vigorously disagree and see no evidence for that.

 

[PatLaurel]

There is nothing to suggest what the defense strategy will be. Modsnip: Off topic to this case

My opinion is that the estate has hired Jackson, not to get Nick off, but to ensure that as he moves through the justice system, his rights are protected, and an attempt to get him some mental health treatment. To lose respect for Jackson, as I read in this thread is unfortunate. Without defense, we have no system of justice. imo.

I am not suggesting that NR, or anyone, regardless of the alleged crime, should be denied competent legal representation. My objection is to AJ’s strategy <modsnip> Fortunately, we all understand that not guilty does not mean innocent.
Some rest easy at night, while others will forever be followed by ghosts. Haunted freedom, a life sentence by itself. MOO JMO

It was also unfortunate to see people mocking DA Hank Brennan and losing respect for him. Without prosecution we have no system for enforcing the law. MOO JMO

 

[Cedars]

I hope this is true and he is ineligible.

Yes, but if convicted, he'll be in jail for the rest of his life, so what would he be spending it on, anyway?

The lawyer might be gambling that if he wins the case, NR will get his inheritance and pay him very well then...

JMO

 

[BUF]

Looks like Jackson went in the side gate with others. Looks like he had the combination to the lock to get in….maybe entrance to the guest house?

Nick Reiner's lawyer arrives at the home of Rob and Michele Reiner | Fox News Video

Alan Jackson, Karen Read's former criminal defense attorney, arrived at the home of Rob and Michele Reiner on Dec. 16 after confirming he's representing the director's son, Nick Reiner.

www.foxnews.com

video at link

 

[Seattle1]

He is being charge with 2 counts of first degree murder, but also a "special circumstance of multiple murders". What does that mean?

Cued up:

Does anyone know what that means?

For one, this enhancer meets the CA exception of all defendants allowed the right to bail. In other words, NR will not be eligible for pretrial bail release, and he will remain in the custody of the County Sheriff until jurors deliver their verdict. I recall the DA citing two special circumstances: multiple murders and the use of a dangerous weapon (knife).

 

[Arkay]

Where is this coming from? I vigorously disagree and see no evidence for that.

Same.

Of course we don’t know this family personally, but IMO these parents tried extensively and in every way to help Nick. He’s 32, didn’t have children where maybe then his parents would’ve taken them in; but otherwise at his age, making his choices, I think they seem to have tried everything.

As for Rob not letting Nick talk too much in interviews, I see some of that but Rob Reiner was a BIG personality, an actor but also a director, accustomed to directing.

That was his style and it’s what gave Nick a luxurious life. And also in an interview, Rob is “on.” In their private life at home, I believe Nick got an enormous amount of attention, as he was the problem child.

And aged 32, if he didn’t want to be around his father, or around either parent, he could have packed his bags and stayed away permanently, and try to make it on his own.

JMO

 

[Seattle1]

Just heard the Los Angeles DA give a press conference. So it seems California brought back the death penalty, though it hasn't been used since 2006.

No, not exactly. The death penalty has always been legal in California under state law, but Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2019 executive order instituted a moratorium halting all executions while he remains in office. As of April 2025, 589 people remain on death row—down nearly 10% from 2024—though no one has been executed since 2006.

2025 - Status

 

[NuttMegg]

From the article:

Rob, they say, was dead. But Michele, they say, was alive enough to tell Romy that it was her brother, Nick, who’d tried to kill them.

“He left us here for dead,” the source says Michelle told Romy.

That would explain why almost instantly it was reported that the stabbings were the work of a family member.

"He left us here for dead" sounds unlikely to me.
Not unlikely that he did that, but kind of dramatic and pulp fictiony that she would have said it that way.

 

[Cedars]

Where is this coming from? I vigorously disagree and see no evidence for that.

My understanding of the term codependent is it's not an a diagnosis or a label one applieds to others, but is just part of a certain self-help movement, supposedly helping unhappy people to have more insight into themselves in the context of unhappiness with relationships.

To throw it as an accusation at a) an immensely successful and happy person b) who is a parent c) who is dead and d) has been murdered by their child...well, I guess maybe in an AA meeting...

JMO

 

[steeltowngirl]

"He left us here for dead" sounds unlikely to me.
Not unlikely that he did that, but kind of dramatic and pulp fictiony that she would have said it that way.

Agree. The DA warned us during the presser that there would be rumors, and not to trust all that is being published. He probably has heard them all already.

 

[JDG]

"He left us here for dead" sounds unlikely to me.
Not unlikely that he did that, but kind of dramatic and pulp fictiony that she would have said it that way.

They would have been dead for hours, in a state of rigor mortis IMO.

Not making statements.

 

[Cindizzi]

Just spotted this in TV guide. Tonight on ABC.
I’m in Mountain Time Zone so it starts in an hour here for me.

 

[NuttMegg]

My understanding of the term codependent is it's not an a diagnosis or a label one applieds to others, but is just part of a certain self-help movement, supposedly helping unhappy people to have more insight into themselves in the context of unhappiness with relationships.

To throw it as an accusation at a) an immensely successful and happy person b) who is a parent c) who is dead and d) has been murdered by their child...well, I guess maybe in an AA meeting...

JMO

The term codependent applied to RR implies shared guilt for the crime, which isn't fair, imo.