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

[SophieRose]

The problem is, it's very hard to tell the difference between the two. IMO

And even if he did have wild tantrums at age 11, that does not mean he was schizophrenic back then. There are several other potential diagnosis for major tantrums in children.

Also, if he had been diagnosed with bipolar/schizophrenia a long time ago, why were they sending him to in-house rehabs? He should have been in mental health centres, not drug rehabs.

I don't think he was diagnosed as schizophrenic until relatively recently. And I think that it is possible that the psychosis that appears to be schizophrenic may be drug induced psychosis. IMO

My neighbor's son was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) as a child. I did not know him then but it seems like he never got treatment for the ODD.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): Symptoms & Treatment

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a condition in which your child displays a pattern of uncooperative, defiant and angry behavior toward people in authority.

my.clevelandclinic.org

 

[MistyWaters]

The problem is, it's very hard to tell the difference between the two. IMO

And even if he did have wild tantrums at age 11, that does not mean he was schizophrenic back then. There are several other potential diagnosis for major tantrums in children.

Also, if he had been diagnosed with bipolar/schizophrenia a long time ago, why were they sending him to in-house rehabs? He should have been in mental health centres, not drug rehabs.

I don't think he was diagnosed as schizophrenic until relatively recently. And I think that it is possible that the psychosis that appears to be schizophrenic may be drug induced psychosis. IMO

Yes from what I’ve been reading if NR was not diagnosed with schizophrenia until quite recently, it could be that his longterm addiction caused the psychosis due to brain damage from drug use.

But I can understand why the defence would like to pass on the theory that NR was an undiagnosed schizophrenia who used drugs. What comes first, the chicken or the egg.

There’s an interview out there with Dr Drew, who claims to be an expert in the field of addictions, stated meth because causes people to be ‘wildly psychotic’, such as were the actions of NR upon murdering his parents.

The direction of the defence will likely be influenced by NR’s toxicology results at the time he was arrested.
JMO

 

[Cedars]

Yes from what I’ve been reading if NR was not diagnosed with schizophrenia until quite recently, it could be that his longterm addiction caused the psychosis due to brain damage from drug use.

But I can understand why the defence would like to pass on the theory that NR was an undiagnosed schizophrenia who used drugs. What comes first, the chicken or the egg.

There’s an interview out there with Dr Drew, who claims to be an expert in the field of addictions, stated meth because causes people to be ‘wildly psychotic’, such as were the actions of NR upon murdering his parents.

The direction of the defence will likely be influenced by NR’s toxicology results at the time he was arrested.
JMO

IMO the prosecution will likely stick with their allegation of 1st degree murder - not just because of the evidence of sound mind, but also, if they establish a precedent that anyone with a history of drug or alcohol abuse can claim insanity, innumerable crimes will go unpunished...

JMO

 

[ilovewings]

Exactly !

Again my .02 ; NR's rage was against his parents.
Not the doctors who prescribed his meds.
Not the rehab stays nor the employees working there.
Not his siblings.
Not his drug dealer or 'friends' he indulged with while in his homeless phases.

Just his mom and dad.
Telling in that his misplaced anger and self-centered narcissism blamed the two people who cared and had tried to help him.
Awful.
Now they're gone forever out of his life, and NR has no one to blame except himself.
Imo.

Exactly!
He eliminated the only two people that really cared about him and did
Everything they could to help him

 

[SaraSmile]

The diagnosis could potentially affect the type of facility in which he will be incarcerated. For example, there's the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, CA. Charles Manson was one of their most infamous prisoners.

Also, Atascadero is still operating as a Ca State Hospital, that takes in criminals. According to the website, they try to stabilize criminals, then send to prison to live out their sentences. A very small number remain in Atascadero indefinitely.

 

[JDG]

No matter where they put him, it’s going to be a real shock to him.

He’s used to doing as he likes, not anymore dude.

It’s going to be forever from now on.

 

[Phoenix Lazarus]

He's definitely going down for his whole life, if convicted?

 

[Harriet]

I agree, but I do think that the coroner attributed the order of the deaths according to the evidence found during the autopsy and/or the evidence provided by LE and first responders.

It is my understanding that, in the UK, if unclear it is presumed that the eldest died first.

Who Was the First to Die? Determining the Order of Deaths

Blandy & Blandy LLP solicitors explains how the order of deaths are determined when more than one person passes away.

www.blandy.co.uk

I don't understand. She was not surviving.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Nick seems to have been actually diagnosed with schizophrenia, aside from drug induced psychosis.



Source

I honestly think he's a very problematic person. My theory is he maybe suffers from many illnesses: schizophrenia, meth psychosis, narcissism, antisocial personality disorder and maybe even borderline personality disorder.

Not to mention: entitlement possibly, boredom, restlessness and maybe ADHD.

I'm not an expert but I think it's a myriad of things for NR. All MOO JMO of course.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Oops you did. Not enough coffee this morning. This is a great post!

I had to go check what thread I was in as well after your post haha... I'm only on my second coffee

 

[LinasK]

I honestly think he's a very problematic person. My theory is he maybe suffers from many illnesses: schizophrenia, meth psychosis, narcissism, antisocial personality disorder and maybe even borderline personality disorder.

Not to mention: entitlement possibly, boredom, restlessness and maybe ADHD.

I'm not an expert but I think it's a myriad of things for NR. All MOO JMO of course.

Well the Affluenza defense isn't going to work for him...

 

[katydid23]

Nick seems to have been actually diagnosed with schizophrenia, aside from drug induced psychosis.



Source

My neighbor's son was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) as a child. I did not know him then but it seems like he never got treatment for the ODD.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): Symptoms & Treatment

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a condition in which your child displays a pattern of uncooperative, defiant and angry behavior toward people in authority.

my.clevelandclinic.org

I was actually wondering if he had ODD as a child. I am familiar with two children who had that and they both sought attention, either good or bad. But no matter what the rest of the family wanted to do they were opposed to it. And would act out and react in extreme ways to get their own way. Some of the descriptions of a young Nick sounded similar. Everyone was on eggshells apparently, to avoid upsetting Nick.

That didnt sound like schizophrenia to me. My schizophrenic brother was often defiant and oppositional, but his reasons were very bizarre and illogical.

 

[NottaYutz]

I honestly think he's a very problematic person. My theory is he maybe suffers from many illnesses: schizophrenia, meth psychosis, narcissism, antisocial personality disorder and maybe even borderline personality disorder.

Not to mention: entitlement possibly, boredom, restlessness and maybe ADHD.

I'm not an expert but I think it's a myriad of things for NR. All MOO JMO of course.

Someone upthread suggested Cluster B personality disorder.

 

[MistyWaters]

More on the timeline.

BBM

Nick Reiner hunkered down in trendy hotel with sweeping priceless seaside views allegedly after killing parents Rob and Michele

Nick would have strolled past the hotel lobby’s quaint Christmas tree, upscale restaurant and cozy fire-pit sitting area featuring wicker chairs to get to the check-in desk to rent a $300-a-n…

nypost.com

Nick, 32, would have strolled past the hotel lobby’s quaint Christmas tree, upscale restaurant and cozy fire-pit sitting area featuring wicker chairs to get to the check-in desk to rent a $300-a-night room at the primely located lodging between the pier and a light-rail station — which has a line leading directly to the location where he was arrested later that night….

…..Law-enforcement sources have said they believe Nick killed Rob and Michelle between leaving the party and arriving at the hotel…..

…..Security-camera footage then showed him leaving his parents’ house just before midnight, and he was spotted again a short time later calming buying a drink at a nearby gas station.

Four hours later, Nick was checking into the Pierside — a 10-minute drive and roughly a roughly 90-minute walk.”

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I realize that (I know how to read military time and know they use the time found (FND) as they can't possibly know an exact time). What I was pointing out was they listed her TOD 1 minute after his. I also found it interesting that they didn't include FND on Michele's certificate.

I have a couple of ideas about this. Especially knowing that the report is interim/not yet final.

First thought is that even if both RR and MR were deceased well before they were found, there may be blood or other evidence indicating who was killed first. Either a trail of blood from one to the other, or the presence of RR's blood on MR's body, or something along those lines.

Second, I was thinking about Gene and Betsy Hackman and I think this was discussed on their thread, that who is determined to have died in what order can affect legal procedures such as inheritances and whose will takes precedence.

I think that if the coroner knows for sure which one died first, it would make sense to note that (even by one minute which is probably a made up number as opposed to there being evidence that it was only one minute later) just in case it turned out to be important in the "line of succession" as it were.

MOO

 

[otto]

If Rob Reiner was found first, then he was closest to the entrance. He was probably killed first. Afterward, Michele was killed at a second location in the house. They were not killed together in one location, such as asleep in bed.

"Romy Reiner, the daughter of slain actor-director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, was unaware that her mother was also dead inside the Los Angeles home where she discovered the body of her father, according to a new report.

Romy, 27, arrived at Rob and Michele's Brentwood home on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 14, after she was contacted by a massage therapist who was unable to access the property, the New York Times reported.

After she arrived at the home and discovered her father's body, Romy allegedly "fled" the home without knowing that her mother Michele was also dead inside, the outlet reported."

Rob Reiner's Daughter Found Dad's Body After Massage Therapist Called Her, Didn't Know Mom Was Also Dead in House: Report

Romy Reiner, the daughter of slain director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner, found her father's body after being called to her parents' home by a massage therapist, the New York Times reported. Romy reportedly fled the home after making the discovery without knowing that her mother was...

people.com

Reiner Family Associate Details Events Before and After Killings Were Discovered

A person close to the family provided a detailed account of what occurred in the Reiner house after a massage therapist received no response at the gate.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Really?]

The father would be the first target imo.

 

[SophieRose]

More on the timeline.

BBM

Nick Reiner hunkered down in trendy hotel with sweeping priceless seaside views allegedly after killing parents Rob and Michele

Nick would have strolled past the hotel lobby’s quaint Christmas tree, upscale restaurant and cozy fire-pit sitting area featuring wicker chairs to get to the check-in desk to rent a $300-a-n…

nypost.com

Nick, 32, would have strolled past the hotel lobby’s quaint Christmas tree, upscale restaurant and cozy fire-pit sitting area featuring wicker chairs to get to the check-in desk to rent a $300-a-night room at the primely located lodging between the pier and a light-rail station — which has a line leading directly to the location where he was arrested later that night….

…..Law-enforcement sources have said they believe Nick killed Rob and Michelle between leaving the party and arriving at the hotel…..

…..Security-camera footage then showed him leaving his parents’ house just before midnight, and he was spotted again a short time later calming buying a drink at a nearby gas station.

Four hours later, Nick was checking into the Pierside — a 10-minute drive and roughly a roughly 90-minute walk.”

I was looking at how far the party was from the Reiner residence and it was about a mile and a half to two miles, a five minute ride or a 30 minute walk. Do you think he rode home with them?

 

[ilovewings]

He's definitely going down for his whole life, if convicted?

As well he should -- he is young, only 32- he just threw his life away and there is no one to rescue you this time---he needs to be incarcerated in a prison or mental institution for the rest of his life

 

[ktm44]

Couldn't the doctor have ordered an inpatient hospital stay for observation though while his meds were changing???

He could have and we don't know if the doctor did or didn't make that recommendation but I have known a few substance abusers in my lifetime and none would have put themselves in a position that would separate them from feeding their addiction.

Any patient can refuse hospitalization or treatment but it's also worth mentioning that it's not uncommon for med changes for mental illness without harm to anyone.

Calgary has had two instances in my memory where a schizophrenic harmed others and in both cases, they had gone off meds, rather than a med change.

I'm sure he was blood tested after his arrest but his behaviour makes me wonder if he chose to self medicate rather than take his prescribed meds.