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

[SaraSmile]

As the prosecutor said, I'm going to wait until the trial to see what the facts are in this case. Prosecutors and LE have shut down the flow of information to the public about this case. They're intent on doing it right, so I'm a little skeptical of some of the recent "news". Tabloids have run out of verifiable facts and they're making do with rumors now.

In good times, the Reiners may have given NR a generous allowance via credit cards, etc., but I'm skeptical of them continuing to give him unrestricted funds when he had relapsed and started doing drugs again. He spoke of being homeless at times and I doubt that would have happened if he were receiving 10 grand a month. ICBW, but I'd rather wait until we get some facts, assuming those will come out at the trial.

JMO, MOO

Merry Christmas!!!

Ok, you are so right, click bait, maybe not even true about $10k allowance. Got to wait to see actual evidence.

I DO remember Rob talking about this in the “ being Charlie” movie press tour. Rob said he tried to avoid giving Nick much cash, because he knew it mostly went to street drugs.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

It’s been said he moved in a few days before the murder? So where was he before? The 70K treatment ctr?

They probably didn't want him alone for Christmas coming up. Of course they would let their son stay during this holiday. So sad the rest of the family will now have a terrible Christmas

 

[SaraSmile]

Oh thanks for this, I hadn't heard of Cluster B before! Just googled it! Crazy stuff. Glad I'm not the only one who suspects this!

Cluster B, such as “Borderline” personality disorder, if they don’t get what they want, extreme anger. Disregulation of emotions( slightest perceived wrong, can set them off), no filter.

Viscous cycle of acting out, feeling guilty, moving on with no apology or resolution( trust and bonds break down), resentment builds, drugs to cover uncomfortable emotions, more anger, acting out…

 

[SaraSmile]

They probably didn't want him alone for Christmas coming up. Of course they would let their son stay during this holiday. So sad the rest of the family will now have a terrible Christmas

So very tragic, I think you are right, they thought he might improve on new meds over a couple of weeks at home. Holidays, a time of family togetherness.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Some newer information in this report -

It’s not paylocked -
BBM

Nick Reiner's mental state at center of murder case: Inside the looming legal fight

An assessment of Nick Reiner's mental health will take months and could influence whether prosecutors seek the death penalty, experts say.

www.latimes.com

“Prosecutors have not commented on the allegation that Rob and Nick Reiner exchanged words at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party. Some family friends told The Times the clash had been “overblown.”

But Rahmani said prosecutors could use it.

He said it could be used as evidence of premeditation. “If you get into an argument with someone and you come back with a weapon, that’s premeditation.”

Rahmani also said prosecutors could use the argument to fight an insanity defense. “If you’re capable enough to have an argument with your parents at a Christmas party ... you are not insane,” Rahmani said.….

…..Nick Reiner has no criminal history and at the time of the killing was living in the back house of the Reiners’ property.”

Thanks for the article, some nuggets in there (BBM below)... So when he entered the hotel no visible blood. My guesses to throw into the mix or if anyone else has ideas!:

- He washed up: washed hands, face at guest/parents house before leaving. I'm sure he'd have blood on his face after the viciousness of the crime
- He changed clothes: he thought about changing clothes after the crime at guest house where his clothes were? Or was there a change of clothes in the backpack?
- He hdidn't change clothes, but hid the clothes he was wearing: Either he had a long trench jacket to cover bloody clothes so not noticeable in the hotel

"But witnesses noted that Nick had no visible blood on him when he walked in"

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

I am behind, has it been reported that NR was sent to a "therapeutic" behavioral type camp as a youth or is this speculation? Apologies if this has been discussed, off to back read right now.

Nick spoke of it, including on Dopey podcast episodes.

 

[windrower]

But why stick around to torment your parents? If you want to prove you’re “better” than them, leave and make your own way in the world. If you resent being dependent on them, go out and prove you can do it.

In a way, this horrible incident reminds me of Tarzan actor Ron Ely’s son Cameron who became angry and killed his mother. Police responding to the 911 call killed the son in self defense.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/16/us/actor-ron-ely-homicide-investigation-trnd#:~:text=Erik%20Raney%20told%20CNN.,2012%20in%20Beverly%20Hills%2C%20California.&text=The%20incident%20began%20with%20a,Chan%20contributed%20to%20this%20report.

Cameron also had problems with drug addiction and was still living at home despite graduating from Harvard. In the 911 call, he tried to blame his father for the murder. His father later sued the city and police for killing his son.

It was linked further back that years ago, when living in his parent's guest house (presumably the same one as recently), he went ballistic and destroyed a tv and other things in the room when told he'd need to leave due to not staying sober. Definitely a warning sign of violent tendencies.

SBM for context

IME (mom has bipolar disorder), there are always red flags or warning signs before the onset of psychosis. But they can be very subtle and easy to miss in the moment. It’s often only in hindsight that the red flags become glaringly obvious. We humans have a terrible tendency to explain everything away.

12/18/25

With Nick Reiner's case guaranteed to take at least three months, even if he enters a plea of insanity, Jackson is in line for a significant pay day. But, asked how he came to represent Nick, and who would pay his fees, the loquacious Jackson went quiet.

'I can't comment,' he said.

Now a Reiner family insider has told the Daily Mail that the cash is indeed coming from Rob and Michele's estate. The source, a lifelong family friend, who was close to Rob's celebrated Hollywood actor, director, screenwriter father Carl, said that grieving relatives have hired Jackson and some of the Reiners' estimated $200 million fortune is being used to save Nick from prison.

They would rather Nick get locked up for life in a mental institution than be incarcerated, the source said.

Reiner family bombshell as insiders reveal who will inherit $200m

With Nick Reiner's case guaranteed to take at least three months, even if he enters a plea of insanity, his attorney Alan Jackson is in line for a significant pay day.

www.dailymail.co.uk

An addict child needs therapy, guidance and help parents are not able to provide on their own. Getting sober does not mean just stopping the drug intake, it means doing tremendous mental work to change the thinking patterns and to assume the responsibility for ones own choices and decisions. Someone who is not a sober addict or mental health specialist has no idea how to do that.
Also, getting off drugs results often in depression and suicide ideation, so it's better done under eye of a specialist and it is easier to make these first steps towards sobriety in a place where the drug of choice is not easily accesible.

So no, I do not think Rob and Michele made mistake by sending Nick to the rehab centers. What was their mistake, IMO, was the lack of consequence, as it seems they took him out of these places at his whim. But alas, it seems they had very unhealthy habit of enabling and appeasing Nick way before he got addicted.

Bbm

The enabling and appeasing Nick is ongoing. Nick is still manipulating and tormenting the family, even if he isn’t actually making the decisions about attorney, etc.

And really??? The double murder of your parents is STILL not where you draw the line of allowing Nick to dictate how things will be?

I am appalled.

And saddened for the family and friends of RR and MR. This was your chance to remove the spotlight from Nick and keep it where it belongs—on the murder victims, Rob and Michele Reiner.

IMO

 

[Angelo]

I think they left the party together. I recall reading that Nick did not drive. The arguing and bickering continued on the ride home. Rob and Michele went into the main house, Nick went to the guesthouse or they all may have gone into the main house.

Nick once said in an interview, "I get crazy, you don’t want to set me off." I think something was said that night that set Nick off.

Nick, seething, waited until his parents went to bed and then entered the house/went upstairs to attack them, probably grabbing a knife from the kitchen.

Nick may have gone back to the guesthouse to clean up and change clothes or he did that in the main house. He was spotted walking away from the family home around midnight carrying a black backpack. The backpack may have contained his bloody clothes and perhaps the knife. He wandered around, dumped the backpack and then checked into the hotel. Would be interesting to see if he still had the dark backpack when he checked in. I am not sure I believe all the reports of blood all over the hotel room.

At some point on Sunday, Nick may have purchased a new backpack. On Sunday night, when Nick is seen in the convenience store surveillance footage before being arrested, he had a red backpack.

Also, cinematographer Barry Markowitz, a family friend, stayed at the Reiner house for 5 days around November 14th. He said everything was normal. Nick "looked great" and took part in day to day life.

Rob Reiner's pal reveals he slept under the same roof as Nick Reiner

Cinematographer Barry Markowitz revealed that Rob Reiner personally insisted he stay at the house rather than book a hotel and eagerly welcomed him into the family's daily routine.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2004257501194166501

"The directing legend,
who has known Reiner since the early 1970s,
described what happened to the couple
as 'an obscenity' and 'an abyss in lived reality'.

Scorsese said
that only the 'passing of time' will help him cope with the tragic loss.

'I'll hear his laugh and see his beatific face
and laugh at his stories and relish his natural comic timing,
and feel lucky all over again to have him as a friend'.

Scorsese shared how he 'loved hanging out' with Reiner
and claimed that they had a 'natural affinity' for one another.

He hailed Reiner as being hilarious and 'bitingly funny',
but not one to overshadow others around him.

He highlighted his friend's 'uninhibited freedom' and how he tried to live life to its fullest.
He added
that the loss of Reiner has left him with 'profound sadness'."

 

[Betty P]

JMO, the surviving siblings don't owe NR anything.

 

[Arkay]

At some point on Sunday, Nick may have purchased a new backpack. On Sunday night, when Nick is seen in the convenience store surveillance footage before being arrested, he had a red backpack.

Yes, this has me wondering. I also agree with @Angelo when it comes to this bloody hotel room narrrative.

The video, posted somewhere above, showing Nick hanging around the convenience store and appearing to flinch slightly when a policeman walks by, is confusing me in light of some of what has been reported.

According to the video, the wandering around the streets and then meandering through the convenience store is after the murders, yet he doesn’t appear bloody.

How then was the hotel room allegedly awash in blood? It doesn’t appear that he went FIRST to the hotel and AFTER to the convenience store. Also, when he checked into the hotel with the credit card, if he was so bloody that his room was later found drenched in blood, surely the front desk would’ve noticed that prior to check-in.

I agree he may have had SOME bloody items in the backpack, but I cannot comprehend how he wasn’t bloody in the store and at arrival at the hotel, yet the hotel room was reportedly full of blood.

I agree that the bloody hotel room story may have been one of those reported details which may actually be unfounded, given how there is always confusion when a story first breaks in the news.

JMO

 

[lohrtabitha]

JMO, the surviving siblings don't owe NR anything.

Agreed but I would bet money they still love their brother. It's hard to turn that kind of family unconditional love off. They are also probably asking themselves what would mom and dad want them to do in this situation. I think we all know it would be to hire the best defense lawyer and to which they did. IMO

 

[Auntie Cipation]

Yes, this has me wondering. I also agree with @Angelo when it comes to this bloody hotel room narrrative.

The video, posted somewhere above, showing Nick hanging around the convenience store and appearing to flinch slightly when a policeman walks by, is confusing me in light of some of what has been reported.

According to the video, the wandering around the streets and then meandering through the convenience store is after the murders, yet he doesn’t appear bloody.

How then was the hotel room allegedly awash in blood? It doesn’t appear that he went FIRST to the hotel and AFTER to the convenience store. Also, when he checked into the hotel with the credit card, if he was so bloody that his room was later found drenched in blood, surely the front desk would’ve noticed that prior to check-in.

I agree he may have had SOME bloody items in the backpack, but I cannot comprehend how he wasn’t bloody in the store and at arrival at the hotel, yet the hotel room was reportedly full of blood.

I agree that the bloody hotel room story may have been one of those reported details which may actually be unfounded, given how there is always confusion when a story first breaks in the news.

JMO

I have learned from WS over the years, that it doesn't take much actual volume of blood to look scary or even horrific when encountered by someone who isn't expecting it.

I think the Occam's Razor of this story is Nick likely cut his hand during the stabbing. He could easily have wrapped it up in something absorbent or even taped it to stop the blood flow as he traveled across town and into the hotel (and I'm on the fence as to whether he checked in to the hotel before the crime or after).

Once in his room after the stabbing, he likely unwrapped his hand and tried to clean the wound or get it to stop bleeding for good. It likely did the reverse and bled more, at least initially, and I can think of several scenarios where either his hand or the bloody wrap ended up making a mess in the room. He apparently didn't clean it up, and when the hotel staff saw it, it must have looked dramatic but still may have been a relatively small amount of blood that was concealed or contained when he was seen at check-in. MOO

 

[SherryLock]

Agreed but I would bet money they still love their brother. It's hard to turn that kind of family unconditional love off. They are also probably asking themselves what would mom and dad want them to do in this situation. I think we all know it would be to hire the best defense lawyer and to which they did. IMO

I agree.

Also, NR's siblings likely know him better than anyone else who's still alive. And they might legitimately believe he is gravely mentally ill, to the extent that a mental institution is a more appropriate placement for him than prison.

It sounds like NR has had very serious problems for the majority of his life. So if a mental institution rather than prison is what the siblings are going for, they may not be off-base. I'm sure we all know that sometimes people turn to drugs in an attempt to self-medicate. I don't know if that's the case here or not, but NR's brother and sister probably do.

NR may not qualify for an insanity defense legally, as far as not knowing right from wrong at the time of the crimes. But it would seem to me that just doing what he did is an indication of insanity, in the everyday or medical sense of the word.

I'd be very surprised if NR's siblings' goal is to try to get him set free, though.

MOO

 

[SophieRose]

Here's a case where a son murdered his wealthy parents and their housekeeper in Newport Beach California back in 2019, and it recently went to trial. He pled not guilty by way of insanity (mental health and drugs involved, including steroids.).

Man who killed his parents, housekeeper in Newport Beach was sane, jury decides

Nicholson faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when sentenced on Dec. 19.

www.ocregister.com

Camden Burton Nicholson was convicted Oct. 22 of three counts of special-circumstances murder. But because he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, the trial entered a second phase, with jurors set to decide whether he was legally insane at the time of the 2019 slayings.

Jurors on Thursday, Oct. 30, found he was indeed legally sane, so Nicholson faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when sentenced on Dec. 19. If found legally insane, he would have faced an indefinite stay at a mental-health facility.

 

[katydid23]

Some newer information in this report -

It’s not paylocked -
BBM

Nick Reiner's mental state at center of murder case: Inside the looming legal fight

An assessment of Nick Reiner's mental health will take months and could influence whether prosecutors seek the death penalty, experts say.

www.latimes.com

“Prosecutors have not commented on the allegation that Rob and Nick Reiner exchanged words at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party. Some family friends told The Times the clash had been “overblown.”

But Rahmani said prosecutors could use it.

He said it could be used as evidence of premeditation. “If you get into an argument with someone and you come back with a weapon, that’s premeditation.”

Rahmani also said prosecutors could use the argument to fight an insanity defense. “If you’re capable enough to have an argument with your parents at a Christmas party ... you are not insane,” Rahmani said.….

…..Nick Reiner has no criminal history and at the time of the killing was living in the back house of the Reiners’ property.”

It's kind of funny to read :
"Nick Reiner has no criminal history..."

Seriously? He's been a drug addict for 15 years. He bought and used drugs hundreds of times. We know of at least two times where he totally demolished everything in his parent's guest house, maliciously, costing them thousands of dollars each time.

The ONLY reason he has no 'criminal history' is that his parents protected him from that outcome. It's not because he never committed any crimes.

 

[Niner]

Made some changes in the Timeline - so posting here - to get your opinion or if something I have is wrong!

Timeline: “We don’t have that kind of specificity yet,” McDonnell said of the timeline of the couple’s deaths. “We’re waiting on the coroner to be able to try and determine as best they can at this point.”
[map Reiner's house to the Pierside & on to USC on post #935, page 47]

The Sinclair Gas station is about two miles from the hotel. And the hotel is five minutes from the metro train stop, which goes directly to the
Exposition Blvd. stop where Nick was apprehended by cops.

Prosecutors have alleged N Reiner stabbed his parents in "approximately the early morning hours" on Sunday, according to a news release. But a specific time has not been disclosed.

12/13/25 Saturday night: One source told the Daily Mail that Rob & Michele ate at the Amici restaurant Friday [could be Saturday], the night before they attended a holiday party at Conan O'Brien's house with their son.

12/13/25 Saturday: Rob & Michele & Nick attend Conen O'Brien's holiday party. No time on when they left.

12/13/25 Saturday: Just before midnight – Security cameras show Nick leaving Reiner’s house.

12/13/25 Saturday @ 12:16am: Nick walking across a Sinclair gas station forecourt. John Fawcett, the owner of the nearby Sinclair gas station, has described seeing Nick walking across the forecourt late on Saturday night -CCTV footage from late Saturday night Fawcett described how Nick walked westbound along San Vicente Avenue before cutting through his station. He then crossed the street before pausing outside a consignment store called The RealReal & then heading up the sidewalk.

12/14/25 Sunday @ 4am: Reportedly, NR checked into room 207 at The Pierside Hotel in Santa Monica around 4am on Sunday, 12/14/25.

12/14/25 Sunday @ 2pm: Masseuse arrives-no one answers door.

12/14/25 Sunday @ 3pm: Romy finds her parents dead.

12/14/25 Sunday @ 3:30pm: Emergency services called to home.

12/14/25 Sunday @ 3:40pm: The couple was found dead around 3:40pm on Sunday, 12/14/25.

12/14/25 Sunday @ 8:20pm: Nick buys a drink [Gatorade] at Sinclair gas station. Early Sunday morning captured on CCTV Reiner has a red backpack slung over his shoulder & is wearing a black & green jacket with white stripes & a dark baseball cap, calmly strolled by the service station just half a mile from his parents' home.

12/14/25 Sunday @ 9:15pm: Reiner was taken into custody [at the *Expo/Vermont Metro station in Exposition Park] around 9:15pm, Sunday, 12/14/25 &

12/15/25 Monday @ ~1am: An LAPD detective showed up at the Pierside Santa Monica hotel. the detective told the front desk clerk he was looking for a guest named Nick Reiner. The detective told the clerk he was there for a "welfare check." But he also told the clerk he was concerned Reiner "disposed of a weapon & used the room to clean & dispose of evidence in a violent crime." The clerk accompanied the detective to room 207, but it had been cleaned hours before by a hotel housekeeper, who, we're told, found blood in the shower & on the bed sheets.

12/15/25 Monday @ 5:04am: booked on suspicion of murder at 5:04am, Monday, 12/15/25

 

[SaraSmile]

Thanks for the article, some nuggets in there (BBM below)... So when he entered the hotel no visible blood. My guesses to throw into the mix or if anyone else has ideas!:

- He washed up: washed hands, face at guest/parents house before leaving. I'm sure he'd have blood on his face after the viciousness of the crime
- He changed clothes: he thought about changing clothes after the crime at guest house where his clothes were? Or was there a change of clothes in the backpack?
- He hdidn't change clothes, but hid the clothes he was wearing: Either he had a long trench jacket to cover bloody clothes so not noticeable in the hotel

"But witnesses noted that Nick had no visible blood on him when he walked in"

I like your ideas!

All imagination, details on this are not out yet.

He used gloves, to avoid cuts to hands( he still got cut), long sleeve jacket, avoid defensive scratches. He wore a gator( scarf), glasses, cap. After incident, went to his guest house. He took off bloody clothes, shoes, cap, gator, put in a bag to dump. Wash glasses, quick shower, bandaid on cuts, fresh clothes.

On way to hotel, dump bloody items, maybe even knife, I doubt he cared about a knife souvenir, he only wanted the parent obstacle gone.

Check into hotel. Staff aren’t looking closely at 4 am, and my take is the staff would likely avoid commenting on guests( seemed normal, maybe high). Sheets on windows, shoot up drugs. Crash in bed. Some blood on sheets.

In AM, shower, cut opened a bit, bled, blood residue on shower wall, shower pan. ( later, Blood was Noticable, collectible, and a part of the crime scene).

Headed over to USC to get more drugs. Police were able to find him within a few hours.

I think between all the drug use, very high, out of his mind, Nick didn’t put thought into getting away with the crime, just wanted to get on with life, get drugs, live life in Brentwood.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

So one of the times was the day they were killed. Was he seething all day? Or did the call happen in the evening before the party or after they returned home?

Also from your article:

Among the list of incidents is a call on May 5, 2017 at 4.04pm with the code 'BFV INVEST', meaning a battery of family violence investigation.
...
'Brentwood is a fairly quiet neighborhood. You don't generally get a lot of calls for service at a home,' the source close to the LAPD said.

'In this case, the officers had a recollection that they responded to the home on numerous occasions.'

'It was significant, the number of times they visited that home.'

Police were called repeatedly to Rob Reiner's home before killings

I think that call was after they were found by daughter?

 

[SaraSmile]

It's kind of funny to read :
"Nick Reiner has no criminal history..."

Seriously? He's been a drug addict for 15 years. He bought and used drugs hundreds of times. We know of at least two times where he totally demolished everything in his parent's guest house, maliciously, costing them thousands of dollars each time.

The ONLY reason he has no 'criminal history' is that his parents protected him from that outcome. It's not because he never committed any crimes.

Agreed