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

[Stunned]

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.

I don't know if it's a question of wanting to get better or ifs it's a question of knowing how.

 

[Tabulator]

Hollywood nepo baby Nick Reiner 'volatile', 'violent', 'egomaniacal'

The double murder of a famed director and his wife, allegedly at the hands of their spoiled son, has the elements of a low-rent TV movie.

torontosun.com

This article was pretty enlightening - and gave quite the chill.

 

[Stunned]

I guess he got lucky. There are numerous stories/cases where a family member calls 911 to help with a mentally ill loved one, who aren't so lucky. I believe LA county now has mental health outreach workers to assist police, due to the lack of mental health training provided to officers.

But I assure you, it is not as cut and dry as you think, and not easy to get a person involuntarily committed.
imo

Asheville NC has Mental Health vans that will come to your home to assess whether a trip to the hospital is necessary and will help get you there. They will also retrieve any weapons from the home.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

With mental health it is not one size fits all, a person can have inside stimulation, hear voices etc and not react visibly to others. Also if someone is self medicating with street drugs, he could just appear as they said at the hotel "high"

Plus, prescribed psych drugs don’t mix with alcohol or street drugs. OMO.

 

[LittleSeaTree]

Thank you from this now-abstinent alcohol addict for this measured and informed post!

I followed a harm reduction / moderation pathway, which eventually led me to abstinence. <modsnip> it's nice to see a post with both some knowledge and some lived experience.

Thank you toughies for sharing, really beautiful of you!

 

[Cedars]

Plus, prescribed psych drugs don’t mix with alcohol or street drugs. OMO.

Yes, I wonder, if there's an attempt to blame the drs for faulty prescriptions, won't they likely point to allegations that he violated his treatment plan by using?

JMO

 

[Stunned]

Yes, I wonder, if there's an attempt to blame the drs for faulty prescriptions, won't they likely point to allegations that he violated his treatment plan by using?

JMO

I would think so, yes. IMO

 

[LinasK]

This is the California code:​

For someone to be placed in a 72-hour hold, they must meet one of three criteria. The professional must believe that there is probable cause that, due to a mental health disorder, the individual is at least one of the following:

1. A danger to themselves (e.g., following a suicide attempt);
2. A danger to others (e.g., communicating a specific plan to harm someone else);
3. Gravely disabled, that is, as a result of a mental health and/or a severe substance use disorder, they are unable to provide for their basic personal needs for food, clothing, shelter, personal safety, or necessary medical care. (Learn more about this here.)

The person placed in a 72-hour hold must be advised of their rights. This means the authority taking them into custody must complete paperwork stating the circumstances under which the person's condition was called to the attention of the designated professional; the probable cause to believe the person meets one or more of the criteria; and the facts upon which this probable cause is based. Mere conclusions without supporting facts are not sufficient.

According to the LPS Act, when someone is first taken into custody:

...[they] shall be provided, by the person who takes him or her into custody, the following information orally in a language or modality accessible to the person. If the person cannot understand an oral advisement, the information shall be provided in writing. The information shall be in substantially the following form:

"My name is [name of professional]. I am a [peace officer/mental health professional] with [name of agency]. You are not under criminal arrest, but I am taking you for an examination by mental health professionals at [name of facility]. You will be told your rights by the mental health staff."

Involuntary Hospitalization (5150) - NAMI Sonoma County

In California, the involuntary commitment of individuals in mental health care facilities is governed by the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act. It's also

namisonomacounty.org

So you see here in California we can't successfully call to have a neighbor committed, because he or she is suicidal. A professional has to determine probable cause.

I wasn't the one who called. His wife called the local PD. They took him in. The reason I know about it is because the police knocked on my door in the middle of the night to get a key, and his wife had given me a key to their house.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Very sad NR and the R's family struggle if schizophrenia like it's sounding like.

I still have to think many schizophrenics do not murder however it does happen. I did a quick search (AI results) and studies in Western countries consistently find that people with schizophrenia account for roughly 6% to 10% of all homicide offenders. So very rare/low rate.

Sounds like NR suffered likely a few things that overlap, respectively. I think he possibly had some narcissism along with mental health/ADHD, drug addiction, etc. etc. etc.

Wise words of my dad who worked in corrections as a case worker with inmates - if someone suffers from mental health and is truly remorseful (once stabilized/medicated) they should ask not to be released into the public knowing what they're capable of if they stop taking their meds.

As much as it sounds like NR wants to plead not guilty or insanity - if he truly wanted to be accountable and had remorse he'd skip the trial to spare more pain and make a deal to be put into a mental health facility for life instead of prison.

Unsure that's legally possible or even an option, but the fact he's maybe trying to fight this leaves a bad taste in my mouth. JMO MOO

 

[SMK777]

If the adjustment in his medication caused a meltdown this will be a mitigating factor:

Nick Reiner's medication for schizophrenia was adjusted before parents' killings, sources say

He was diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago and was treated with medication, the sources said. It's not clear how soon before the slayings his medication was changed.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Hexe]

If the adjustment in his medication caused a meltdown this will be a mitigating factor:

It won't fly if Nick did not take the medication as prescribed and/or was using anything else, street drugs, kinda pills, weed, booze.

 

[SMK777]

It won't fly if Nick did not take the medication as prescribed and/or was using anything else, street drugs, kinda pills, weed, booze.

True, yes.

 

[avalonisland]

Well….thats coincidental.

Exactly. He targeted his anger on his parents to the point of murdering them. Yet, if this was because of meds or mental health diagnosis, then how come he did not slice the throats of other humans that night. He seemed well enough to get a hotel, shower, change, pick out a gatorade or other drink, go for walks, put his hands up without incident when surrounded by police. Seems like he was done living under his dad's shadow. Dad and Mom may have been like one to him. I don't buy a potential plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. He seems pretty sane to me. He appears to have acted on impulses to silence his parents which if that's the case, premeditation.

 

[avalonisland]

It won't fly if Nick did not take the medication as prescribed and/or was using anything else, street drugs, k

If the adjustment in his medication caused a meltdown this will be a mitigating factor:

Nick Reiner's medication for schizophrenia was adjusted before parents' killings, sources say

He was diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago and was treated with medication, the sources said. It's not clear how soon before the slayings his medication was changed.

www.nbcnews.com

Very sad NR and the R's family struggle if schizophrenia like it's sounding like.

I still have to think many schizophrenics do not murder however it does happen. I did a quick search (AI results) and studies in Western countries consistently find that people with schizophrenia account for roughly 6% to 10% of all homicide offenders. So very rare/low rate.

Sounds like NR suffered likely a few things that overlap, respectively. I think he possibly had some narcissism along with mental health/ADHD, drug addiction, etc. etc. etc.

Wise words of my dad who worked in corrections as a case worker with inmates - if someone suffers from mental health and is truly remorseful (once stabilized/medicated) they should ask not to be released into the public knowing what they're capable of if they stop taking their meds.

As much as it sounds like NR wants to plead not guilty or insanity - if he truly wanted to be accountable and had remorse he'd skip the trial to spare more pain and make a deal to be put into a mental health facility for life instead of prison.

Unsure that's legally possible or even an option, but the fact he's maybe trying to fight this leaves a bad taste in my mouth. JMO MOO

To me, NR suffered from Dad & Mom wanting to cut him, a drug addict hostile son, off. So, at the time of stabbings and slicing Mom and Dad's throat he's insane by media, but all of his actions post killings he does not appear in any way to be insane. I don't buy this. In the video clips of NR roaming the streets post murder, he appears to be at ease and feeling free without a care in the world. Huge public fight at a celebrity party brought shame and anger to son in which he finally acted on impluse that was perhaps street drug induced or maybe not. Not insane at time of murder in my opinion

 

[detective.moon]

Yet, if this was because of meds or mental health diagnosis, then how come he did not slice the throats of other humans that night.

rsbm

if NR had hallucinations or paranoia around his parents specifically, that would explain why he killed them and not anyone else. to me this is not proof of sanity.

He seemed well enough to get a hotel, shower, change, pick out a gatorade or other drink, go for walks, put his hands up without incident when surrounded by police.

again rsbm. i think this too is not proof of sanity. you can believe the strangest things in your mind but still be able to complete certain tasks. and he didn’t really do these things looking like a normal person. the hotel staff thought he was tweaking and i think he had hung a bloody sheet in front of his window, iirc?

this reply is not meant to defend NR’s horrible actions, and i think we probably just don’t know enough to accurately assess his state of mind! i just feel strongly about misconceptions around mental illness.

 

[avalonisland]

Yes, I wonder, if there's an attempt to blame the drs for faulty prescriptions, won't they likely point to allegations that he violated his treatment plan by using?

JMO

Drs are not to blame. The only one responsible for these brutal homicides is NR who acted sane enough to do the murders when he knew no one else would be around and where he could accomplish the task and potentially flee and get away with it. He did not seem to know about massage therapist appt. He preplanned murder (seems like after fight and while roaming streets post fight before going back to Mom and Dad's house). I really want to know why housekeeping would enter room to clean same day he checked in unless he did a 1/2 day room booking

 

[avalonisland]

l

rsbm

if NR had hallucinations or paranoia around his parents specifically, that would explain why he killed them and not anyone else. to me this is not proof of sanity.



again rsbm. i think this too is not proof of sanity. you can believe the strangest things in your mind but still be able to complete certain tasks. and he didn’t really do these things looking like a normal person. the hotel staff thought he was tweaking and i think he had hung a bloody sheet in front of his window, iirc?

this reply is not meant to defend NR’s horrible actions, and i think we probably just don’t know enough to accurately assess his state of mind! i just feel strongly about misconceptions around mental illness.

Your points are valid. It will come down to at the time he entered his parents bedroom that led to stabbing them to death, did he know the difference between right and wrong. I think he did based on his actions/behavior post killings. Also, with the room 207 motel, reports are he checked in at 4am but not that he booked room at 4am and checked in soon after. With bedsheet covering window (which for drug addicts it's a potential sign of drug binging), I wonder if he was in room prior to 4am like the day before which would then make sense for housekeeping to enter Sunday late morning or so.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Nick Reiner was diagnosed with schizophrenia, new meds made him ‘out of his head’ before parents’ murders: sources

Nick Reiner was diagnosed with schizophrenia, new meds made him ‘out of his head’ before parents’ murders: sources

Nick Reiner was schizophrenic, and his new medication was making him “out of his head” in the weeks before he allegedly killed Hollywood legendary dad Rob Reiner and his mom Michele, according to a…

nypost.com

Did LE take a blood sample from NR after being arrested?

New drugs or new drugs mixed with NR's un-prescribed cocktail of drugs?

imo

 

[Sarahlou]

Did LE take a blood sample from NR after being arrested?

New drugs or new drugs mixed with NR's un-prescribed cocktail of drugs?

imo

I think that would be standard.

 

[tiffkapow]

Does anyone know if there is "mental health court" in California? when I worked in behavioral health in
AZ clients were processed through mental health court and often got lighter sentences. I personally prefer judges to be educated in Mental health over having a separate court program. I often felt justice was not served. I hope that any mental illness is taken into consideration but that it does not deflect from justice. Such as a short hospital stay and outpatient services would not satisfy me.

There definitely is in San Francisco as I have a friend who went through that process so I wouldn’t be surprised if that existed in the whole state but I can’t say for sure.