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

[SaraSmile]

It's nearly impossible to institutionalise an adult, unless they have committed some violent actions. His addictions were not going to get him committed, nor were his outbursts or his vandalism, etc.

One has to be delusional, psychotic, totally erratic and dangerously so, to be held in a mental institution.

I've seen no evidence of NR being out of touch with reality and delusional. I think he was bitter, hateful, resentful, entitled, selfish, cold and heartless. But that is not enough to get him committed to an institution until he acts out violently.

The parents did not have the power to get him institutionalised because he was not a proven danger to himself or others.Until he was.

Which makes no sense, because an addict using hard lethal drugs IS a danger to himself and others but for some reason that does not fit the legal definition.

Wow, so sad.
Your lines “the parents did not have power”, “an addict using hard lethal drugs IS a danger…”
Your whole post got me, so very true.

 

[Angelo]

One of the stories NR told on the podcast Dopey happened about 10-12 years ago, NR was living in the main house. He took acid and began to fear that he might harm himself or do something crazy. He went to his parents bedroom, woke them up and told them he had just done acid. His mother got angry and left the bedroom to sleep elsewhere. His father stayed up with him for hours calming him down until the drug wore off.

 

[Chimera]

At about 2:25; the host H. Levin says "...we are told that is what happened to Nick...." when speaking about the meds needing adjusting, and that Nick was out of his mind at the 70k per month rehab. facility in the LA area.
Question; was this mentioned elsewhere in the media or did an employee at said facility speak to H. Levin and/or M. Geragos ?
Just wondering as I'm assuming TMZ backs up their sources.

The sympathy and concern shown for Nick is such that the H.L. host also mentions further in the video that Nick may have been dazed and (paraphrased by me)'....has no comprehension of what he has done...'.
Yes well I'm doubtful about that.

At this time I'm still reeling over the brutal deaths of two people who did not deserve such a fate.
I am not feeling very sorry for Nick.
Omo.

 

[Twick]

Please don't judge my ignorance but is it possible to pretend to be schizophrenic.

I don't mean any offence in my question I'm just curious

I think it would be possible if you had a lot of experience or knowledge of the disease. I don’t think you could convincingly do it just by watching a few thrillers.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

At about 2:25; the host H. Levin says "...we are told that is what happened to Nick...." when speaking about the meds needing adjusting, and that Nick was out of his mind at the 70k per month rehab. facility in the LA area.
Question; was this mentioned elsewhere in the media or did an employee at said facility speak to H. Levin and/or M. Geragos ?
Just wondering as I'm assuming TMZ backs up their sources.

The sympathy and concern shown for Nick is such that the H.L. host also mentions further in the video that Nick may have been dazed and (paraphrased by me)'....has no comprehension of what he has done...'.
Yes well I'm doubtful about that.

At this time I'm still reeling over the brutal deaths of two people who did not deserve such a fate.
I am not feeling very sorry for Nick.
Omo.

Wow... that is frustrating the psychiatrist warned and deemed him "dangerous" and a $70K rehab is saying how out of his head he was but still no one could have him committed or made an 'anonymous' call to police about erratic/potentially dangerous behaviour?

I understand hindsight is 20/20 however if a trained and educated professional psychiatrist deemed him dangerous - something should have been done JMO

 

[Sundog]

Wow... that is frustrating the psychiatrist warned and deemed him "dangerous" and a $70K rehab is saying how out of his head he was but still no one could have him committed or made an 'anonymous' call to police about erratic/potentially dangerous behaviour?

I understand hindsight is 20/20 however if a trained and educated professional psychiatrist deemed him dangerous - something should have been done JMO

If that is the case, then the psychiatrist could have done something him/herself.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2003214242837581913

 

[femto]

Reading this case I can't help but feel like Rob Reiner took a very wrong approach with this child. To send him to 18 different rehab centers, the equivalent of boot camps, in his teenage years, far away from his family would do some serious damage to a normal child's psyche, let alone to one that is quite clearly struggling and needs guidance. It's also not really a great idea in the first place because you hardly want your teenage son to meet and associate with more hardcore veteran junkies which is basically most of the population in said rehabs. And finally - rehabs never work. Not unless the person himself wants to change and has realized in his own mind that this is bad for him. Nick obviously never reached that conclusion and possibly because he was never allowed to. He only "stopped" because it was either that or more rehab adventures. And obviously as we've seen - this approach doesn't work because it's a sure way to relapse. Sometimes money can't fix things. I'm not saying the opposite approach would have worked any better, he might have still been a lost cause regardless, but it's an interesting thing to think about.

As far as him being a schizophrenic who didn't know what he was doing. I doubt that. Drugs would have certainly lowered his inhibitions and removed the fear of consequences out of his mind, but you don't stab your parents to death just because you're having an episode. There's a deep rooted hatred there that the drugs might have manifested but they didn't create. And the timeline suggests that this wasn't something that happened in the spur of a moment but pre-planned. Not in the sense that he thought of it weeks or days in advance, only he knows that, but that after they had their argument at the party and whatever followed after (kicking him out or whatever), he consciously went to his house to kill them. And he certainly was of the right mind to know where he was going, how to get there and how to go back to his hotel which isn't a 5 minute walk. Checking in, cleaning himself also shows cognitive ability to know what he's done. And finally in the footage at the gas station you can see him checking out the police officer suggesting he knows he's done something wrong. The drugs might have pushed him over the edge but they certainly weren't the reason as to why he killed them.

 

[waldojabba]

If that is the case, then the psychiatrist could have done something him/herself.

Hindsight is 20/20. Pretty much most of the time when we make a decision/ judgement call and it does not result in death. All the what if's or I shoud have's or you should have's don't matter now.

Per what we know from msm Nick's parents were clearly concerned about him. They brought him to a party to keep an eye on him because they sensed something was not right about him. They knew about the changing up of drugs. An ambulance and an involuntary psych hold might have been a good choice for NIck that night - but they'd been down the road with Nick and evidently did not feel it was time to choose that route.

Perhaps after the experience with him at the party they got home and told him that the next day they were calling the Doc's and he was going to be put back inside the facility until he got squared away for his own good .

We've all read in msm how Nick hated inpatient treatment. Curious to me but that was his bugaboo. Its not bc you cannot get street drugs in rehab - they are readily available. A loved one filled me in yrs ago after their 4+ very expensive rehabs. This person also shared that abuse can happen there - sexual and otherwise. by other patients and even aides and doctors etc.

Sometimes in some places, there is a lot going on behind those very nice looking expensive closed doors and gates.

For whatever reason, Nick hated inpatient treatment, and that could have been his trigger, it got so magnified in his mind that it morphed into kill or be killed in his thoughts.

Obviously purely speculation.

Nobody will ever know what was going on inside Nick's head that night/early morning. Only Nick, and he may have no memory of any of it.

IMO There is no recreating that moment in time.

Doctors will talk about his past history, their most recent interactions with him and what the prescription drugs /street drug combo could have created or caused in his thought patterns. ( if they did draw his blood at arrest)

If there is an overwhelming consensus among Defense and Prosecution experts/ shrinks and pharmacologists etc, that they think he was psychotic, for whatever reason, I think we'll see a plea.

Kind of too early to know though.

JMO

 

[MistyWaters]

Wow... that is frustrating the psychiatrist warned and deemed him "dangerous" and a $70K rehab is saying how out of his head he was but still no one could have him committed or made an 'anonymous' call to police about erratic/potentially dangerous behaviour?

I understand hindsight is 20/20 however if a trained and educated professional psychiatrist deemed him dangerous - something should have been done JMO

What erratic/potentially dangerous behaviour occurred at the party, if I’m understanding your post correctly? Maybe I missed it but beyond starring, acting odd and rude, stomping off, asking people if they were famous and arguing with his father that’s all I recall that’s been reported. But not that anybody was physically threatened or that any violence occurred. I doubt RR would’ve considered the argument dangerous and I’d be very surprised if someone acting weird would be taken very seriously let alone as an urgent matter regardless of rich or poor complainant. Most police departments would be hesitant to act on the basis of anonymous calls, if someone isn’t willing to put their name to a complaint how can they know it’s not vindictive or frivolous?

Only in hindsight do we wish for a different ending of that night at the Xmas party but I don’t think NR was out of control enough to warrant for a mental health report, otherwise I suspect the Reiners would’ve taken him immediately back home.
JMO

 

[carolmaria]

I suspect that if he is sentenced to psychiatric care, it will be a lifelong game for him acting out and manipulating everyone in his sphere. In prison, someone will quickly put a stop to his mind games.

Very much on board with this. Just from my observations while working in long-term psychiatric facilities.

Yes, the forensic psych population can be tough, but people who not only consider… but *carry out* an intimate, bloody, savage murder of both their parents—exceedingly rare.

I’d be concerned about NR’s potential to wreak havoc on the milieu, staff and patients alike. That gaming part you refer to.

 

[MistyWaters]

Reading this case I can't help but feel like Rob Reiner took a very wrong approach with this child. To send him to 18 different rehab centers, the equivalent of boot camps, in his teenage years, far away from his family would do some serious damage to a normal child's psyche, let alone to one that is quite clearly struggling and needs guidance. It's also not really a great idea in the first place because you hardly want your teenage son to meet and associate with more hardcore veteran junkies which is basically most of the population in said rehabs. And finally - rehabs never work. Not unless the person himself wants to change and has realized in his own mind that this is bad for him. Nick obviously never reached that conclusion and possibly because he was never allowed to. He only "stopped" because it was either that or more rehab adventures. And obviously as we've seen - this approach doesn't work because it's a sure way to relapse. Sometimes money can't fix things. I'm not saying the opposite approach would have worked any better, he might have still been a lost cause regardless, but it's an interesting thing to think about.

As far as him being a schizophrenic who didn't know what he was doing. I doubt that. Drugs would have certainly lowered his inhibitions and removed the fear of consequences out of his mind, but you don't stab your parents to death just because you're having an episode. There's a deep rooted hatred there that the drugs might have manifested but they didn't create. And the timeline suggests that this wasn't something that happened in the spur of a moment but pre-planned. Not in the sense that he thought of it weeks or days in advance, only he knows that, but that after they had their argument at the party and whatever followed after (kicking him out or whatever), he consciously went to his house to kill them. And he certainly was of the right mind to know where he was going, how to get there and how to go back to his hotel which isn't a 5 minute walk. Checking in, cleaning himself also shows cognitive ability to know what he's done. And finally in the footage at the gas station you can see him checking out the police officer suggesting he knows he's done something wrong. The drugs might have pushed him over the edge but they certainly weren’t the reason as to why he killed them.

Yes it is interesting to think about, why NR was sent to rehab so many times at such as young age. I wondered did he lie and manipulate his parents, as they’d been told by professionals but never believed? I wondered if, after relapsing each time, NR made false promises to his parents in order to stay in their good graces? Did he relentlessly complain about the treatment at these places, they were mean and cruel to him? So as his father was bound and determined to achieve success with his son’s life by eradicating the drugs, he was left with no choice but to desperately seek success, one place after another. I wondered if at some point RR ever really accepted the fact that NR was an addict. If not, that could be why he believed rehab and addiction treatment wasn’t worthwhile.
JMO

 

[steeltowngirl]

Reading this case I can't help but feel like Rob Reiner took a very wrong approach with this child. To send him to 18 different rehab centers, the equivalent of boot camps, in his teenage years, far away from his family would do some serious damage to a normal child's psyche, let alone to one that is quite clearly struggling and needs guidance. It's also not really a great idea in the first place because you hardly want your teenage son to meet and associate with more hardcore veteran junkies which is basically most of the population in said rehabs. And finally - rehabs never work. Not unless the person himself wants to change and has realized in his own mind that this is bad for him. Nick obviously never reached that conclusion and possibly because he was never allowed to. He only "stopped" because it was either that or more rehab adventures. And obviously as we've seen - this approach doesn't work because it's a sure way to relapse. Sometimes money can't fix things. I'm not saying the opposite approach would have worked any better, he might have still been a lost cause regardless, but it's an interesting thing to think about.

As far as him being a schizophrenic who didn't know what he was doing. I doubt that. Drugs would have certainly lowered his inhibitions and removed the fear of consequences out of his mind, but you don't stab your parents to death just because you're having an episode. There's a deep rooted hatred there that the drugs might have manifested but they didn't create. And the timeline suggests that this wasn't something that happened in the spur of a moment but pre-planned. Not in the sense that he thought of it weeks or days in advance, only he knows that, but that after they had their argument at the party and whatever followed after (kicking him out or whatever), he consciously went to his house to kill them. And he certainly was of the right mind to know where he was going, how to get there and how to go back to his hotel which isn't a 5 minute walk. Checking in, cleaning himself also shows cognitive ability to know what he's done. And finally in the footage at the gas station you can see him checking out the police officer suggesting he knows he's done something wrong. The drugs might have pushed him over the edge but they certainly weren't the reason as to why he killed them.

What would have been the right approach, in your opinion?

 

[SaraSmile]

Reading this case I can't help but feel like Rob Reiner took a very wrong approach with this child. To send him to 18 different rehab centers, the equivalent of boot camps, in his teenage years, far away from his family would do some serious damage to a normal child's psyche, let alone to one that is quite clearly struggling and needs guidance. It's also not really a great idea in the first place because you hardly want your teenage son to meet and associate with more hardcore veteran junkies which is basically most of the population in said rehabs. And finally - rehabs never work. Not unless the person himself wants to change and has realized in his own mind that this is bad for him. Nick obviously never reached that conclusion and possibly because he was never allowed to. He only "stopped" because it was either that or more rehab adventures. And obviously as we've seen - this approach doesn't work because it's a sure way to relapse. Sometimes money can't fix things. I'm not saying the opposite approach would have worked any better, he might have still been a lost cause regardless, but it's an interesting thing to think about.

As far as him being a schizophrenic who didn't know what he was doing. I doubt that. Drugs would have certainly lowered his inhibitions and removed the fear of consequences out of his mind, but you don't stab your parents to death just because you're having an episode. There's a deep rooted hatred there that the drugs might have manifested but they didn't create. And the timeline suggests that this wasn't something that happened in the spur of a moment but pre-planned. Not in the sense that he thought of it weeks or days in advance, only he knows that, but that after they had their argument at the party and whatever followed after (kicking him out or whatever), he consciously went to his house to kill them. And he certainly was of the right mind to know where he was going, how to get there and how to go back to his hotel which isn't a 5 minute walk. Checking in, cleaning himself also shows cognitive ability to know what he's done. And finally in the footage at the gas station you can see him checking out the police officer suggesting he knows he's done something wrong. The drugs might have pushed him over the edge but they certainly weren't the reason as to why he killed them.

Very good ideas here, Thanks. MOO There’s some basic addiction rules that the Reiner parents didn’t follow. Going to “18” 30day rehabs is not reasonable, no successful recovery program calls for repeating 30 day programs, so many times. Patients often relapse if they leave rehab too soon, the second time, it needs to be extended, 90 days minimum. Also, dealing with the mental illness, schizophrenia, get on the right meds.
When Rob and Michelle practiced tough love: Nick stayed in recovery center until stable, went to ongoing recovery groups, psych meetings, stayed sober as a rule to live in their house.
Unfortunately, boundaries were not held, and Nick was allowed to return to house, stay in guest house many times when he was using. He was living on the streets part of this time, so parents were worried, let him come home *for his own safety*. Unfortunately that put the *parents/ family members safety in jeopardy*.

Your second paragraph, MOO, many signs of consciousness of guilt for Nick, also, that it was premeditated.
I’m wondering if he wore gloves, thick jacket for the crime. According to hotel check-in. He looked tweaked, but no cuts on hands arms. Maybe even a hat, mask and glasses to avoid spatter, or defensive nails marks.
I still think Alan Jackson was brought on to frame the crime as insanity( schizophrenia, meth rage etc), at first. This stretches the beginning out, gives Alan more time. Nick goes to a mental hospital(gets out of LA Jail), get stable, then continue with the murder case in court.

 

[SaraSmile]

Yes it is interesting to think about, why NR was sent to rehab so many times at such as young age. I wondered did he lie and manipulate his parents, as they’d been told by professionals but never believed? I wondered if, after relapsing each time, NR made false promises to his parents in order to stay in their good graces? Did he relentlessly complain about the treatment at these places, they were mean and cruel to him? So as his father was bound and determined to achieve success with his son’s life by eradicating the drugs, he was left with no choice but to desperately seek success, one place after another. I wondered if at some point RR ever really accepted the fact that NR was an addict. If not, that could be why he believed rehab and addiction treatment wasn’t worthwhile.
JMO

MOO, yes, I was so surprised during the “being Charlie” movie press tour interview, Rob said his son told him recovery programs don’t work. This is real addict speak! Complete denial and condemnation before investigation from Nick, no effort, not even trying. Just wanted to come home and get high( said so in dopey podcast).
Then, Unbelievable, Rob says ok Nick, I believe you, I should have listened to you all along, not the experts, come home, do it your way. His drug use got worse, he developed schizophrenia, major untreated mental illness, scared family members, and eventually murdered parents.
…and this is what we get.

 

[browneyes]

Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner were visciously murdered in their home, by their son. I don’t understand blaming them for the help they provided. The sympathy for the murderer just feels wrong. They did not deserve this.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

What erratic/potentially dangerous behaviour occurred at the party, if I’m understanding your post correctly? Maybe I missed it but beyond starring, acting odd and rude, stomping off, asking people if they were famous and arguing with his father that’s all I recall that’s been reported. But not that anybody was physically threatened or that any violence occurred. I doubt RR would’ve considered the argument dangerous and I’d be very surprised if someone acting weird would be taken very seriously let alone as an urgent matter regardless of rich or poor complainant. Most police departments would be hesitant to act on the basis of anonymous calls, if someone isn’t willing to put their name to a complaint how can they know it’s not vindictive or frivolous?

Only in hindsight do we wish for a different ending of that night at the Xmas party but I don’t think NR was out of control enough to warrant for a mental health report, otherwise I suspect the Reiners would’ve taken him immediately back home.
JMO

NR's history is erratic, up and down, in and out. In an article posted upthread it was stated a party guest was about to phone 911 but the host said not to. Probably didn't want to embarrass/upset the parents maybe and the media might be there so maybe wanted to keep it on the down low to not be in the papers.

People were obviously rattled and feeling VERY uncomfortable. This wasn't an annoying toddler at a party where people were uncomfortable or inconvenienced. NR's described as being 6'3' tall - a big guy, and if acting unstable, that would be quite intimidating, scary and maybe a threatening enough presence to people. Someone there felt police should be called.

We don't know all the party details. Maybe he did threaten someone or threaten to grab something, said something completely disgusting and bizarre to someone...no idea.

Perhaps erratic was the wrong word, semantics. But NR was not nor ever described as stable. If a person felt unsafe, they had a right to want to call police if needed if a mental health crisis or a dangerous person.

I think of the Ukranian girl on the bus/subway... if that man made her feel unsafe, she had a right to call police or ask for help. It would've been her right.

Not everyone downplays things. Sadly, the Reiners might have been used to NR's unstable behaviour and he didn't seem 'out of control' but a guest at a party who didn't know him? MIght've been super spooked or scared and thought "that guy needs to be away from people" or something like that. JMO MOO

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Sadly, unfortunately, it has often been told to me and from my own experience, that recovery from addiction is for those that want it, not necessarily those that need it.

 

[katydid23]

'Going to go for the home run': Meet Nick Reiner's ambitious lawyer

Combining zealous courtroom advocacy with a deft media touch, Nick Reiner's defense lawyer, Alan Jackson, aims high in tough cases.

www.yahoo.com

Seasoned litigators say that if anyone can get Nick Reiner acquitted, it's Alan Jackson.

Combining zealous courtroom advocacy with a deft media touch, Jackson has a reputation for seeking big wins for his clients when other defense lawyers might try to cut a deal.

So even though his lawyer might be gunning for a full acquittal, Nick could be a danger if released; not only to others including his siblings, he could self-harm.

YES

Nick Reiner should not be freed.
He should be in prison for the remainder of his days.
There is psychiatric help in prison and he may be a danger to everyone he believes has wronged him --if released.

YES

I do not think Nick is completely insane all of the time as he has lucid moments even while high/not sober and was able to formulate a plan to get back into his parents home (& imo they had to have been somewhat wary in the past days, and afraid of their son ?) and slaughter both of them.
It has to be a person in a full on hate and rage to be able to use a knife to kill two adults.
The schizophrenic diagnosis seemed to pop up fairly soon after the murders, so it may or may not be accurate ?

I think that is true. Even my brother, who had very out of control manic delusions, had long stretches of coherent, calm behaviour.

It's kind of like being on a roller coaster.

IF Nick was being treated for schizophrenia before this, which some have opined in the media, the possibility of his doing street drugs at the same time may have negated or even exacerbated the effectiveness of his S. meds.

EXACTLY. How can anyone blame the doctor's and their prescribed meds if Nick is also doing meth and smoking pot and drinking?

What's also egregious is that the money his dad and mom amassed after a life of accomplishment and hard work is now going to possibly pay towards getting their murderer off the hook.

This lawyer, Alan Jackson, may have an uphill road if he believes Nick should be fully acquitted and charges dropped ... as Nick's actions point to premeditation and rational behavior, including the washing off of blood at the hotel and placing sheets over the windows.

I wouldn't put it past this atty. to attempt to manipulate a defense and the potential jury, in favor of his client.
Wouldn't Alan Jackson be concerned that IF acquitted, nick could come after him if he felt A.J. did not do his job swiftly enough, or some other grievance ?
Omo.

I hate this attorney's plan. It's not his family that Nick would go after if he is released from jail. It's his siblings that need to worry the most.

 

[su5ie]

NR's history is erratic, up and down, in and out. In an article posted upthread it was stated a party guest was about to phone 911 but the host said not to. Probably didn't want to embarrass/upset the parents maybe and the media might be there so maybe wanted to keep it on the down low to not be in the papers.

People were obviously rattled and feeling VERY uncomfortable. This wasn't an annoying toddler at a party where people were uncomfortable or inconvenienced. NR's described as being 6'3' tall - a big guy, and if acting unstable, that would be quite intimidating, scary and maybe a threatening enough presence to people. Someone there felt police should be called.

We don't know all the party details. Maybe he did threaten someone or threaten to grab something, said something completely disgusting and bizarre to someone...no idea.

Perhaps erratic was the wrong word, semantics. But NR was not nor ever described as stable. If a person felt unsafe, they had a right to want to call police if needed if a mental health crisis or a dangerous person.

I think of the Ukranian girl on the bus/subway... if that man made her feel unsafe, she had a right to call police or ask for help. It would've been her right.

Not everyone downplays things. Sadly, the Reiners might have been used to NR's unstable behaviour and he didn't seem 'out of control' but a guest at a party who didn't know him? MIght've been super spooked or scared and thought "that guy needs to be away from people" or something like that. JMO MOO

And I'm gathering from your previous post re the rehab stating he was off his head and the psychiatrist feeling he was out of control , that this was before the reiners decided to bring him to the party

Imo Nick should have been committed at that stage to a mental institution before it escalated into the horror we see before us

You are right we don't know all the details of the party but we do know Nicks behaviour was abnormal enough for someone to feel the cops should be called and obviously out of respect for the host and quite possibly the reiners they were not . So to suggest that his behaviour was limited to asking awkward questions or staring at people is to suggest party goers were being hyper sensitive and willing to call the cops for nothing . Which is to insinuate that Nick was being victimised for being different and not being jolly

I do feel that whatever happened at that party ,the reiners felt they had it under control . Just like when Nick smashed up the guesthouse they possibly felt removing him from the situation and giving him space was the best solution all round .

If Nick was known to be volatile, which is shown in numerous accounts ,I suspect when he was confronted however passively by others at the party he lost his temper ,possibly started to threaten others of which he has a pattern is the reason cops were going to be called . Whether that temper involved erratic behaviour like throwing/breaking things or shouting remains to be revealed but one thing is for certain Nicks whole life he has been erratic imo