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

[NuttMegg]

I think the siblings may have spoken with him and he described to them the defense case. It might have included AJ having to criticise the parents and their treatment of him as a teenager etc. He was mistreated by being sent away and rejected, etc?

Maybe the siblings decided not to fund the defense anymore?

Yes, that's the best summary yet. Loco but the parents caused it.

 

[tlcya]

I do not think AJ's withdrawal is related to finances or a lack thereof. MOO

but since we will never know as the reasons were discussed behind closed doors what caused him to withdraw, all speculation is fair game.

 

[katydid23]

I hadn't anticipated a public defender.

I think the family decided not to fund NR. Can't blame them really.

 

[katydid23]

I do not think AJ's withdrawal is related to finances or a lack thereof. MOO

but since we will never know as the reasons were discussed behind closed doors what caused him to withdraw, all speculation is fair game.

Why would it go to a public defender just because AJ 'had to' withdraw?

Couldn't he have given it to another high profile defense team, if there were ample financial support?

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Outside of NR's control, and NR is "definitely not guilty".
I do think this indicates strong difference of opinion of the approach of the defense
I wonder how involved this other "insider" financing is. ??

I must confess, I am trying to read too fast... But what if the funding was coming from this other source--like a Dick Van Dyke, Steve Martin (long time friends of Carl Reiner)
Maybe the "insider" and the Reiner kids were in agreement voicing that AJ could not go the route of criminalizing Rob and Michelle.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Outside of NR's control, and NR is "definitely not guilty".
I do think this indicates strong difference of opinion of the approach of the defense
I wonder how involved this other "insider" financing is. ??

I must confess, I am trying to read too fast... But what if the funding was coming from this other source--like a Dick Van Dyke, Steve Martin (long time friends of Carl Reiner)
Maybe the "insider" and the Reiner kids were in agreement voicing that AJ could not go the route of criminalizing Rob and Michelle.

Just talking to myself (ha) but boy this is very acceptable in my eyes. Let the public defender do their best.

I just have too hard a time accepting that NR is sane and clear enough to take the stand above. I just cannot see him as anything but selfish.

I think we will get some clarity--things like this leak.

 

[MistyWaters]

Why would it go to a public defender just because AJ 'had to' withdraw?

Couldn't he have given it to another high profile defense team, if there were ample financial support?

Yes even if NR and AJ had a falling out on strategy and NR fired him, if there was money backing a defence another firm would’ve been hired. But requesting a public defender, assuming NR qualifies, indicates whatever financial support was in place has been removed. I can’t blame the family, if that was where it was coming from. After the shock of their parents deaths was over perhaps they decided they had no reason to care about the welfare of their brother, nor should they.
JMO

 

[NuttMegg]

Outside of NR's control, and NR is "definitely not guilty".
I do think this indicates strong difference of opinion of the approach of the defense
I wonder how involved this other "insider" financing is. ??

I must confess, I am trying to read too fast... But what if the funding was coming from this other source--like a Dick Van Dyke, Steve Martin (long time friends of Carl Reiner)
Maybe the "insider" and the Reiner kids were in agreement voicing that AJ could not go the route of criminalizing Rob and Michelle.

Then they must feel that NR going to prison is better than defaming the parents. To which I agree. The only version of things the atty was given was NR's version plus a few highlights like the dinner. I wonder if the atty can access the rehab records.

 

[Sundog]

I assumed they did, and they'd use it to help Nick ?
He is their brother after all -- and afaik, they still are supportive of him.
Imo.

There might be issues related to the settling of the estate.

 

[waldojabba]

If the siblings had agreed to pay the legal bill, but AJ had to step down, then the siblings could have arranged for another high profile attorney to step in.

But they went right to a public defender? That seems to mean that the family pulled back on their offer to pay the defense attorney ?

I think we have to let it play out.

Maybe the family needs time to regroup and decide upon a new lawyer and the public defender is only a "place holder".

JMO

 

[doublestop]

If paid pro bono (aka funded by the California taxpayers, correct ?) , would A. Jackson be able to set his own fee ?
Could he ask for more than what he would've been paid from the Reiner's estate.

No, it means that the lawyer represents him for free, as a volunteer.

 

[Sundog]

Am looking around for footage of Alan Jackson's recent address to the media...

Found it :

Alan Jackson Speaks After Nick Reiner Court Appearance

Alan Jackson Speaks After Nick Reiner Court Appearance

www.tmz.com

Eta : Again with A. Jackson mentioning how very, very complex this case is.
Imo, yes and no.

Yes; with considering past diagnosis and treatments or failures therewith ?

No; in that it would appear a son who was loved brutally slayed his own parents and did it by himself and with no remorse or regard for his surviving siblings !
Savage act and afaik Nick knew what he was doing and was able to successfully conceal the murder weapon, among other evasive actions.

Yes it's not as cut and dried as that, but just thinking out loud after listening to the now former atty.
Omo.

AJ, the now former attorney, stated that the reasons were beyond his control, and also beyond the control of NR. Of course, the latter could imply that NR's mental health is an issue beyond his control and made it impossible for AJ to be able to help him, or that the estate of his late parents doesn't allow for payment of an expensive defense. Or other. If it is an estate issue, and later is resolved, then I think his siblings would then be willing to hire a private attorney if it would really make a difference to NR's defense and long-term well-being. That would mean that the public defender assignment could be temporary. I guess we will see as this case moves forward.

 

[keek]

I think we have to let it play out.

Maybe the family needs time to regroup and decide upon a new lawyer and the public defender is only a "place card".

JMO

A public defender is the place card was my thought. Don't know the reason AJ stepped away, if NR wanted no defense, or to defend himself, that means no defender. We'll see this in time what it was all about from the R family as I think AJ is done when he said, He is innocent, print that. You know how passionate he is. IMO

 

[Sundog]

That's interesting. How do they go about proving that? Bank account access?

Yes, application for a public defender requires a full financial disclosure of assets.

 

[Sundog]

I think there is evidence that he was physically threatening. What does it mean when someone says a teenager had a 20 minute tantrum? What does it mean when a father has to give a 'bear hug' to a child to try and alter their angry tantrum? Typically an out of control tantrum includes crying, screaming, flailing, throwing things, and/or hitting.
We have heard examples of Nick throwing chairs and throwing cups across the room. And examples of him destroying everything in his guest house, then laughing about it.
So to try and say that his outbursts were not volatile is incorrect, imo.


That^^^ is very easy to say.>>>> " just cut him off completely and let him figure it out."

First of all, you cannot legally cut off your minor child completely. You are responsible for their home, food and care. So they could not cut him off. They had to deal with the volatile tantrums and the defiance on a daily basis.

It is not half assed to send a child away to a program that promises to address their defiance and their sobriety. It is a full measure of hope and dedication. Half assed would be to keep trying out patient therapy, which allows the child to keep getting high and being defiant.

You say that so easily---" deal with him under close supervision during those developmental years"

How exactly? Have you ever tried to 'deal' with an unruly spoiled rich kid high on cocaine before ? They don't 'deal.' To deal means people negotiate and barter. Rich kids who just want to continue getting high don't comply and make concessions.

"Close supervision?' You cannot 'supervise' a grown child that refuses to accept any rules or requests. When their response is a 20 minute tantrum of screaming and throwing things and breaking things and flailing at you if you get close, it becomes a standoff. It's like a hostage situation where the rest of the family is held hostage.


He refused to go. End of Story according to him. Not going to go and you can't make me. And if you do drag me there I will just act out and get sent home.

He fooled you too then. You are taking him at his word when everyone knows that he is a master manipulator and talented liar..You say you have no reason not to believe him? He was a known liar and manipulator. Why take him at his word?

His whole sad complaint that all he wanted was love and attention from mummy and daddy is a master manipulation. He always had their full attention. Always.

I think you are grossly underestimating the amount of chaos and grief that he created within his household for all of those years. I guess unless you have lived it you would not understand. If you truly think that half of all adolescents meet his benchmark of aggression there you are way off, in my opinion.

They have now said that he was diagnosed as schizophrenic in his early years. I doubt that half of all adolescents meet that benchmark. He was truly a special case, imo.

YES, if you believe his story 'they never really tried.' But if you believe friends and family members, they tried and tried so much, that it interfered with the rest of their daily lives. It consumed them. It was all they worried about and dealt with most of the time. Just as he hoped.

It was rehab after rehab why???? Oh, because he kept getting high and kept refusing to follow the family rules of going to school and behaving at home.

ATTENTION? I don't understand this accusation that they didn't pay attention to him. That couldn't be further from the truth. And Nick made sure of that. They had to pay their full attention to him because he kept everyone on edge. He created chaos and uncertainty so they had to have full attention on him 24/7.

I lived this experience when I was growing up with a schizophrenic younger brother. My parents went though similar dynamics and it is exhausting and depressing and nerve wracking for everyone involved.

I don't understand all the criticism towards the parents who were doing the best they knew how to do. When a totally defiant, non compliant child puts all their energy into disruptive chaos, there is little anyone can do.

Well said.

 

[leavetheguntakethecannoli]

We have the slayer statute in California. Maybe this applies:

404 Error: Page not found

codes.findlaw.com

 

[leavetheguntakethecannoli]

dbm

 

[Chimera]

No, it means that the lawyer represents him for free, as a volunteer.

Yes, thanks, I understand that.
I was thinking that in some other pro bono cases, does the atty. walk away with any profit at all ?
Or why do some lawyers represent freely ?
Just for the notoriety alone ?
Imo.

 

[Chimera]

A public defender is the place card was my thought. Don't know the reason AJ stepped away, if NR wanted no defense, or to defend himself, that means no defender. We'll see this in time what it was all about from the R family as I think AJ is done when he said, He is innocent, print that. You know how passionate he is. IMO

Emphasis mine.
Yes, & also I thought that was a unique way of stating it.
Like, I said it and I'm going to stand by it no matter what .
Ok then, if that's the 'hill' A.Jackson wants to die on ....
There is a lot of evidence working against that though !
Fwiw, I believe LE have their man.
Jmo.

 

[Chimera]

Doesn't pro bono mean that Jackson foregoes a fee? Ie his firm, or he, provides it free to NR. The taxpayers would not be involved.

Yes, that sounds correct, but I kept reading that the state would be obligated to cover it if NR is indeed indigent; however in this case they may take a look at all of NR's financials; i.e., inheritance, etc. ?
Thinking out loud.