I have known quite a few sherrif's deputies in California - One of the job requirements is to work in the prison system for 1-2 years as their first assignment. Some hate it, but many actually continue working in the prison for a lot longer. I can tell you that placement in the Twin Towers jail is pretty restricting - very few amenities, limited commisary, over-crowded conditions. Not a fun place. Nick Reiner is currently being held there with no bail - California courts move very, very slowly and I predict NR will be housed there until his trial - Given everything I know about NR, I think he will have an extremely difficult time. Being homeless and sleeping rough is like the Fairmont compared to the Twin Towers jail.
We know Rob and Michelle loved their son - and they had the means to give him the very best of everything. And they did. So many advantages. So many chances. But, one thing is that he ALWAYS had the ability to come home to beautiful Brentwood - It was a phone call away. His family loved him, they wanted to support him, they wanted to help him get better and be better. But, what we don't know is if Nick wanted to get better. After everything I have read, including this thread, is that everyone wanted Nick to get better, but Nick wanted it all on his terms -
I know a lot of addicts as I was a placement coordinator for addicted and mentally ill students. Unfortunately, the Reiner's story isn't that unusual with a constant merry-go-round of doctors, counselors, placement, and diagnosis'. Good people trying to help their kids... Houses morgaged, life-savings' depleted, the money, the time. It is a nightmare. I wouldn't wish it on anyone!
In everything I have read, everything I have heard about NR is that he only did what he wanted to do - his terms. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment and I can tell you, often it will take more than 1 stay in rehab - many have 10 or more. It is horrible for families... The despair is overwhelming. NR is probably mentally ill - from the drugs, heredity, or some other factor. But, being mentally ill is a LONG way from a successful insanity defense. The big question is did he know what he was doing was wrong? My opionion... YES. He killed them and left to get a hotel room. He ran away. In that hotel room, there was evidence he tried to clean-up in the shower. I absolutely think he knew it was wrong to kill them - his behaviors would have been MUCH more different if he was truly psychotic and didn't understand. I would ask other's opionion - Did his actions after the murders demonstrate that he knew it was wrong?
Over the coming years, NR will be evaluated, poked, prodded, examined, etc... But, it is my belief that those prosecutors are going to really go after him - he murdered 2 people - I believe they will not be open to anything except prison - the last thing they want is to give the world the impression of "that because NR has a lot of money he gets preferential treatment".
There are no winners here - 2 incredible people lost their lives and the son they loved killed them.
Successful addiction treatment hinges on if the addict wants to stop using. If that addict is willing to fight to stop using. And the ones I know who have success - they were willing to do ANYTHING to stop. Maybe not stop all-at-once but stopping is always the goal - to care about sobriety more than you care about using...
NR, maybe for the very first time in his life, no longer has a safety net. I cannot even imagine the shock he is in... Mom and Dad are unable to help and he is really on his own - his terms. I believe his parents would not want him in prison - but prisons are full of mentally ill people. Just so very, very sad.
I apologize for the long post.