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

[SophieRose]

I gotcha, until, or if he is convicted, would the trust fund then, be blocked? Since it originated from parents?
Or is the Trust Fund His, regardless, since it’s already been designated to him

I worked with a woman who inherited a large trust fund from her grandfather. Maybe the children got money from their grandfather Carl and the money is not subject to the slayer rule.

 

[Arkay]

I agree and I have a theory about why that happens:

I think most of NR's childhood issues may have stemmed from what happens to 'famous' Hollywood families.

I have known several 'child stars' and seen them grow up as my child also worked in the industry. It is a MINEFIELD.

And it can be even worse for young children of huge celebrities. EVERYONE treats the little children AS IF they are royalty. It is the way others can kiss up to Rob Reiner and his father----by treating his little boy as if he was a little prince, it is a way of showing respect to Rob and also buttering him up.

So big time agents and producers and actors who want to work on projects or gain favour with Rob, will routinely spoil his children with gifts and attention.

When that happens to young child stars, at least the working child actor has some context----I am being treated favourably, given gifts from celebrities and tickets to the Oscars and music concerts, etc, because I work hard at my craft.

But little Nick is being treated the same way as Drew Barrymore was, but he has done NOTHING AT ALL to earn those gifts or favours. All of the attention was going to him because his dad and grandpa are powerful and famous.

Ever since Nick was a toddler, he was treated like a very important person who deserved the best of everything, without lifting a finger. And the more bratty and greedy he became, the more attention he got from everyone.

Thank you, @katydid23, for your insight into the Hollywood industry.

I have one friend with whom I grew up here in NYC who is not an actor, but a writer, director and producer. He’s part of that whole scene, part of the Seinfeld, Larry David world and also has made some very famous movies. I’ve only seen him once recently when he came to talk at one of the schools we attended together.

We all know him here as the one who became famous.

I believe everything you say because your family is part of that Hollywood industry.

I do think, though, that nature plays an enormous role.

Rob’s other children apparently did not have the same issues as Nick, so if people looking to curry favor with Rob tried to spoil his other children as well, it doesn’t seem to have had as deleterious an effect on them.

From what I know, my friend’s kids are pretty level-headed. I think there’s just something in some people that predisposes them to have negative outcomes, no matter how much help they are offered. Even if they are deeply loved.

JMO

 

[Izzylizzy]

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

snip

'The Conan O'Brien party fight could be key'​

'The case is in its earliest stages and prosecutors have presented very little evidence against Nick Reiner, including forensics, videos or other data. So it is impossible to know precisely what will happen next. 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.'

MSN

 

[Izzylizzy]

I worked with a woman who inherited a large trust fund from her grandfather. Maybe the children got money from their grandfather Carl and the money is not subject to the slayer rule.

Isn't the "slayer rule" for inheritances?
If he already had a trust in his name from his parents unless there were specific stipulations in it the SR may not apply?

 

[Sadi]

I don't agree that Nick was "controlled". He's a 32 year old man who wanted to live in his parents' guest house. He didn't have to live there, he could live elsewhere if he wanted.

Every 32 year old knows that parents have house rules, and adult children are expected to respect them. If they won't, then they are not welcome.

That's not control, that's life. Jobs have rules, society has rules, roads have rules, sidewalks have rules - everywhere there are rules.

Nick wants to live like an obnoxious teenager who has endless privilege without assuming responsibility. He's a rude, angry man in his 30s who seems to enjoy upsetting others.

Thinking out loud…I’m wondering how Nick is handling being in jail and monitored 24x7? He had a beautiful home and was so privileged, I can’t imagine how he is holding up.

 

[Chimera]

MSN

“I picked up on all that hostility from just one day on set,” Aude says. “That’s how weird and awkward that exchange was.”
The stunt double recalled Reiner's unconventional dynamic with his son on Being Charlie.
'They were fighting and arguing with each other while they were on set. They were kissing each other on the lips, which was weird,' Aude said.

While Nick claimed in a 2016 interview with AOL that working on the movie brought him “closer” to his dad, a separate source on the production tells Page Six that it actually pulled them further apart.

“Making the movie was meant to be a healing process for them both, but from what I heard, it did the opposite, and didn’t help their relationship at all,” the production source tells us, adding, “Working together on that project made their relationship worse, it seemed to increase the tension between them.”

That 'kissing on the lips' bit was a little ... odd.
Maybe a sign of severe codependency on Nicks' part ?
Or maybe Rob trying to calm Nick down like a toddler who's having a temper tantrum.

Rob having to constantly pacify Nick , it seemed like an unhealthy relationship altogether.
Idk.
Imo.

 

[AuDHD]

MSN

“I picked up on all that hostility from just one day on set,” Aude says. “That’s how weird and awkward that exchange was.”
The stunt double recalled Reiner's unconventional dynamic with his son on Being Charlie.
'They were fighting and arguing with each other while they were on set. They were kissing each other on the lips, which was weird,' Aude said.

While Nick claimed in a 2016 interview with AOL that working on the movie brought him “closer” to his dad, a separate source on the production tells Page Six that it actually pulled them further apart.

“Making the movie was meant to be a healing process for them both, but from what I heard, it did the opposite, and didn’t help their relationship at all,” the production source tells us, adding, “Working together on that project made their relationship worse, it seemed to increase the tension between them.”

That 'kissing on the lips' bit was a little ... odd.
Maybe a sign of severe codependency on Nicks' part ?

Rob having to constantly pacify Nick , it seemed like an unhealthy relationship altogether.
Idk.
Imo.

re: kissing on lips yikes!

 

[steeltowngirl]

I gotcha, until, or if he is convicted, would the trust fund then, be blocked? Since it originated from parents?
Or is the Trust Fund His, regardless, since it’s already been designated to him

This is one of the reasons why I think the defense will enter a NGRI plea and hope the prosecution and judge will accept it. There would be no jury trial. Nick would then not be convicted, rather he'd be found not guilty and the court would proceed with sending him to a State Hospital for care of a MH disorder.

eta: by the above, I mean the defense will hope a plea is accepted. Not necessarily my own hope. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, until more info is released.

California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 1026 | FindLaw

California Penal Code PEN CA PENAL Section 1026. Read the code on FindLaw

codes.findlaw.com

 

[NuttMegg]

Isn't the "slayer rule" for inheritances?
If he already had a trust in his name from his parents unless there were specific stipulations in it the SR may not apply?

One doesn't have to inherit a trust fund, they can be set up while everyone is alive.

Also I can't imagine how an existing trust fund could be subjected to the slayer rule, I know it differs amongst states but imo the idea with slayer rules is that a murderer can't benefit from money making efforts based on his crime.

Many times but probably not in this case there is a huge civil suit, i'd think trust fund payouts of the murderer would be diverted to settle the civil suit, if at all possible. (?)

There could be some limiting language in the trust like it starts at a certain age, etc.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I helped a still living, healthy relative set up a trust, there are many kinds. Mainly to keep the gov's sticky hands off assets. But if that atty is really getting 2k per hour, well that's a lot of money. The way I understand it, the person who benefits from the trust can't take it all out at once. I think. Imo, etc.

 

[otto]

Rob and Michele did the best they could with a problematic son. If Nick chose to use rehabilitation and treatment centers as an opportunity to try to get away with cheating and breaking the rules, that's on Nick.

Children who have the privilege of attending live-in private schools, where the student-teacher ratio is typically 9:1, sometimes act ridiculous because they pretend they are rejecting wealth and privilege, or they are hard-done-by or mistreated neglected little rich kids. Instead of embracing the opportunity, they seek attention as though they suffer due to a good education. For example, they play the diva role rather than be normal and thankful.

Nick is a 32 year old man who cannot blame something that happened at the age of 15 on who he is today. None of us can.

Nick was invited by his parents to attend a holiday party with their friends. He must have been behaving normal prior to the party ... otherwise it's common sense that his parents would have left him at home. Nick chose to be rude and obnoxious to guests after he arrived. His rude behaviour upset guests, and he was asked to leave. He was angry, and argued with his father.

Before the end of the day, Nick took a knife, entered his parents' house, caught them off-guard and slashed their throats.

I don't see any reason to frame this in the context of psychosis, mental illness, drug addiction, or anything other than what it is. Nick resented his father and mother. He was angry. He chose to allow his anger to consume him. He chose murder.

I understand the legal defence argument is that drugs caused him to murder his parents, but I don't think that is what happened. There is no documented research that drug addiction causes someone to become a murderer.

 

[Betty P]

MSN

“I picked up on all that hostility from just one day on set,” Aude says. “That’s how weird and awkward that exchange was.”
The stunt double recalled Reiner's unconventional dynamic with his son on Being Charlie.
'They were fighting and arguing with each other while they were on set. They were kissing each other on the lips, which was weird,' Aude said.

While Nick claimed in a 2016 interview with AOL that working on the movie brought him “closer” to his dad, a separate source on the production tells Page Six that it actually pulled them further apart.

“Making the movie was meant to be a healing process for them both, but from what I heard, it did the opposite, and didn’t help their relationship at all,” the production source tells us, adding, “Working together on that project made their relationship worse, it seemed to increase the tension between them.”

That 'kissing on the lips' bit was a little ... odd.
Maybe a sign of severe codependency on Nicks' part ?
Or maybe Rob trying to calm Nick down like a toddler who's having a temper tantrum.

Rob having to constantly pacify Nick , it seemed like an unhealthy relationship altogether.
Idk.
Imo.

Somehow, this isn't surprising. A somewhat spoiled child with years spent struggling with addiction makes a movie with his father about that journey with drug addiction? JMO, that's a recipe for a very stressful environment for a creative movie project. Even if there's a temporary reprieve from the young man's drug addiction, there's still plenty of simmering frustration and resentment, guilt and regret. It might have been better if Rob had handed off the day to day directorial duties, etc. to someone else. Then again, Nick seems like a very high maintenance person. It's possible there were very few directors who wanted to handle him.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Rob and Michele did the best they could with a problematic son. If Nick chose to use rehabilitation and treatment centers as an opportunity to try to get away with cheating and breaking the rules, that's on Nick.

Children who have the privilege of attending live-in private schools, where the student-teacher ratio is typically 9:1, sometimes act ridiculous because they pretend they are rejecting wealth and privilege, or they are hard-done-by or mistreated neglected little rich kids. Instead of embracing the opportunity, they seek attention as though they suffer due to a good education. For example, they play the diva role rather than be normal and thankful.

Nick is a 32 year old man who cannot blame something that happened at the age of 15 on who he is today. None of us can.

Nick was invited by his parents to attend a holiday party with their friends. He must have been behaving normal prior to the party ... otherwise it's common sense that his parents would have left him at home. Nick chose to be rude and obnoxious to guests after he arrived. His rude behaviour upset guests, and he was asked to leave. He was angry, and argued with his father.

Before the end of the day, Nick took a knife, entered his parents' house, caught them off-guard and slashed their throats.

I don't see any reason to frame this in the context of psychosis, mental illness, drug addiction, or anything other than what it is. Nick resented his father and mother. He was angry. He chose to allow his anger to consume him. He chose murder.

I understand the legal defence argument is that drugs caused him to murder his parents, but I don't think that is what happened. There is no documented research that drug addiction causes someone to become a murderer.

Based on previous articles here on the thread,the following statement is most likely, not accurate. It had been stated that they were concerned about Nick, and felt they could not leave him at home. According to that earlier article, it was stated that Rob called Conan to see if it was ok to bring Nick.

He must have been behaving normal prior to the party ... otherwise it's common sense that his parents would have left him at home.

The unsettling reason Rob Reiner’s son Nick attended Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party

The holiday bash took place Saturday night, the evening before Rob and wife Michele Singer Reiner were discovered stabbed to death in their home.

pagesix.com

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Somehow, this isn't surprising. A somewhat spoiled child with years spent struggling with addiction makes a movie with his father about that journey with drug addiction? JMO, that's a recipe for a very stressful environment for a creative movie project. Even if there's a temporary reprieve from the young man's drug addiction, there's still plenty of simmering frustration and resentment, guilt and regret. It might have been better if Rob had handed off the day to day directorial duties, etc. to someone else. Then again, Nick seems like a very high maintenance person. It's possible there were very few directors who wanted to handle him.

I would have thought that people would have advised Rob to NOT engage in this project.

Rob is just too powerful and "in control" as a director, to NOT just take over........

We have seen Rob quoted a number of times, stating that they were not listening to the healthcare providers in those days. He basically was saying, that he and Michelle should not have listened to them, but rather just listened to Nick. So, I guess that is what Rob felt he was doing with this movie.

I feel more and more people are going to feel free enough to talk about those days.

 

[texaslb218]

Rob and Michele did the best they could with a problematic son. If Nick chose to use rehabilitation and treatment centers as an opportunity to try to get away with cheating and breaking the rules, that's on Nick.

Children who have the privilege of attending live-in private schools, where the student-teacher ratio is typically 9:1, sometimes act ridiculous because they pretend they are rejecting wealth and privilege, or they are hard-done-by or mistreated neglected little rich kids. Instead of embracing the opportunity, they seek attention as though they suffer due to a good education. For example, they play the diva role rather than be normal and thankful.

Nick is a 32 year old man who cannot blame something that happened at the age of 15 on who he is today. None of us can.

Nick was invited by his parents to attend a holiday party with their friends. He must have been behaving normal prior to the party ... otherwise it's common sense that his parents would have left him at home. Nick chose to be rude and obnoxious to guests after he arrived. His rude behaviour upset guests, and he was asked to leave. He was angry, and argued with his father.

Before the end of the day, Nick took a knife, entered his parents' house, caught them off-guard and slashed their throats.

I don't see any reason to frame this in the context of psychosis, mental illness, drug addiction, or anything other than what it is. Nick resented his father and mother. He was angry. He chose to allow his anger to consume him. He chose murder.

I understand the legal defence argument is that drugs caused him to murder his parents, but I don't think that is what happened. There is no documented research that drug addiction causes someone to become a murderer.

Agree 100%. IMO---put him away for LWOP in whatever situation you want to prefer. I do not believe he should be judged appropriate nor safe toward society.

 

[otto]

Based on previous articles here on the thread,the following statement is most likely, not accurate. It had been stated that they were concerned about Nick, and felt they could not leave him at home. According to that earlier article, it was stated that Rob called Conan to see if it was ok to bring Nick.

He must have been behaving normal prior to the party ... otherwise it's common sense that his parents would have left him at home.

The unsettling reason Rob Reiner’s son Nick attended Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party

The holiday bash took place Saturday night, the evening before Rob and wife Michele Singer Reiner were discovered stabbed to death in their home.

pagesix.com

If true that Rob and Michele asked Conan O'Brien if they could bring their son to the party on the basis that his "extreme and stressful behaviour ... had grown degrees even more concerning in recent weeks", then that information had to be released by Conan O'Brien to the Hollywood Reporter. Does that sound realistic?

I'm inclined to believe that rumour and fact are co-mingled to present the idea that Rob wanted his son's extreme behaviour on display at a party with friends. After dealing with that extreme behaviour for 17 years, I find that hard to believe.

"Nick Reiner reportedly wasn’t invited to Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party Saturday night — but Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner didn’t want to leave their son alone.

The Hollywood Reporter claimed on Tuesday that the couple asked the host whether the 32-year-old could tag along with them to the holiday bash. The outlet alleged that Nick’s “often … extreme and stressful behavior” had escalated and “grown degrees even more concerning in recent weeks.”

Because of this, the stars were “reluctant to leave him home alone in the guesthouse” of their Brentwood home in Los Angeles. He had been living in the space under “watchful supervision.”

While at the party, Nick reportedly made other guests uncomfortable with three bizarre questions — people’s first name, last name and whether they were famous."​

The unsettling reason Rob Reiner’s son Nick attended Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party

The holiday bash took place Saturday night, the evening before Rob and wife Michele Singer Reiner were discovered stabbed to death in their home.

pagesix.com

"But as the night progressed, a different kind of dark energy filled the room.

An erratic male figure wandered around the party and interrupted conversations, demanding to know who attendees were and if they were “famous.” Many, like Jane Fonda and Bill Hader, in fact were. Whispers begin to ripple. The imposing man — 6-foot-3, approximately 230 pounds — had not wandered in off the street, though many wondered if he had. The man was the son of Rob and Michele Reiner.

Nick’s name was not on the invitation. But his parents asked O’Brien if he could tag along. His behavior, which had often been extreme and stressful, had grown degrees even more concerning in recent weeks. They were reluctant to leave him home alone, in the guesthouse of their Brentwood home, where he was currently living under their watchful supervision.

Hader calmly responded to Nick that he was engaged in a private conversation, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. Nick glared at him for what felt like an uncomfortable amount of time."​

Conan O’Brien Threw a Holiday Party to Forget a Bad Year. Then Nick Reiner Arrived.

Bill Hader and other guests worried the erratic attendee, 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, had wandered in off the street.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[steeltowngirl]

Nicks's defense cannot use a defense of illicit drug intoxication. They may try to blame schizophrenia, but I don't see how they can specifically blame the prescribed meds he was taking for the mental illness. If he was mixing them with illegal street drugs, of course his prescribed medications might not work correctly. JMO

"In 1994, the California State Senate amended the Penal Code, preventing California courts from finding a defendant insane solely on the basis of a personality disorder, adjustment disorder, seizure disorder, or addiction to, or abuse of, intoxicating substances."

Sex Offenders and Insanity: An Examination of 42 Individuals Found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

Although currently there is a large body of research on the characteristics and treatment of sex offenders, very little research has been conducted to investigate the characteristics of sex offenders who have been adjudicated insane. This study included 42 patients at Napa State Hospital who...

jaapl.org

 

[su5ie]

Rob and Michele did the best they could with a problematic son. If Nick chose to use rehabilitation and treatment centers as an opportunity to try to get away with cheating and breaking the rules, that's on Nick.

Children who have the privilege of attending live-in private schools, where the student-teacher ratio is typically 9:1, sometimes act ridiculous because they pretend they are rejecting wealth and privilege, or they are hard-done-by or mistreated neglected little rich kids. Instead of embracing the opportunity, they seek attention as though they suffer due to a good education. For example, they play the diva role rather than be normal and thankful.

Nick is a 32 year old man who cannot blame something that happened at the age of 15 on who he is today. None of us can.

Nick was invited by his parents to attend a holiday party with their friends. He must have been behaving normal prior to the party ... otherwise it's common sense that his parents would have left him at home. Nick chose to be rude and obnoxious to guests after he arrived. His rude behaviour upset guests, and he was asked to leave. He was angry, and argued with his father.

Before the end of the day, Nick took a knife, entered his parents' house, caught them off-guard and slashed their throats.

I don't see any reason to frame this in the context of psychosis, mental illness, drug addiction, or anything other than what it is. Nick resented his father and mother. He was angry. He chose to allow his anger to consume him. He chose murder.

I understand the legal defence argument is that drugs caused him to murder his parents, but I don't think that is what happened. There is no documented research that drug addiction causes someone to become a murderer.

And to the contrary, illegal drugs in the system make an insanity plea null and void

I want to know was the murder weapon found or was it concealed, was the clothing worn during the murder found and I would like to know if all 3 left together and if Nick waited till both were sleeping to commit the murder .

Because if all 3 left conans together andif they separately went into the main home ( M& R and guesthouse (N ) . Nick didn't act in impulse, he premeditated even if that premeditation was for 20 minutes while his parents retired to bed

 

[su5ie]

Nicks's defense cannot use use a defense of illicit drug intoxication. They may try to blame schizophrenia, but I don't see how they can specifically blame the prescribed meds he was taking for the mental illness. If he was mixing them with illegal street drugs, of course his prescribed medications might not work correctly. JMO

"In 1994, the California State Senate amended the Penal Code, preventing California courts from finding a defendant insane solely on the basis of a personality disorder, adjustment disorder, seizure disorder, or addiction to, or abuse of, intoxicating substances."

Sex Offenders and Insanity: An Examination of 42 Individuals Found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

Although currently there is a large body of research on the characteristics and treatment of sex offenders, very little research has been conducted to investigate the characteristics of sex offenders who have been adjudicated insane. This study included 42 patients at Napa State Hospital who...

jaapl.org

Is it the defense that must prove Nick was insane at the time of the murder

From my research into the insanity plea , the burden of proof lays with AJ and as for the outcome if successful. Nick will be put into a mental health facility indefinitely and the defendant often will spend longer in the facility than if they pleaded guilty and recieved a prison sentence. It would appear he might be better off pleading diminished responsibility by reason of drug/ medication induced psychosis

 

[Betty P]

I would have thought that people would have advised Rob to NOT engage in this project.

Rob is just too powerful and "in control" as a director, to NOT just take over........

We have seen Rob quoted a number of times, stating that they were not listening to the healthcare providers in those days. He basically was saying, that he and Michelle should not have listened to them, but rather just listened to Nick. So, I guess that is what Rob felt he was doing with this movie.

I feel more and more people are going to feel free enough to talk about those days.

JMO, it wouldn't have anything to do with Rob in particular. It would have been a difficult project for any father who had been living and struggling with a son's drug addiction for many years. Quite the contrary, I see no reason to blame Rob for his own death at the hands of his son.

 

[Tealgrove]

Yes! Had a chance to witness a few ECT sessions in my work. In one case, it was an 80 year-old patient whose transformation moved me so — I still think about it forty years later.

With respect to ECT it can be very effective however if the patient has had any heart issues they may not be eligible.

I thought I had read somewhere that Nick had suffered a heart attack or heart issue as a result of his drug use. If so, he may not have been a candidate for ECT.

MOO