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

[Chimera]

prosecutors consult with victims' families to gauge their preference for the death penalty or a lesser sentence like LWOP before proceeding with one or the other.

Bbm.
Snipped for focus.

That sounds like the usual actions for the prosecutors to take in such cases.
Not entirely sure if it's always protocol, but one would imagine they want a solid case before trial ?

Thank you for the humbling reminder of how much we still don’t know, and for pointing out that the prosecutor will take the surviving victim’s wishes into account when seeking a sentence.

Agreed, and so far we've heard in msm; 'insiders say' or 'family friends' said', etc.
A bit ambiguous, imo.

Of course the prosecuting atty. is not going to divulge due to lawyer/client privilege ... but it may come out during the trial.
I partly wish Nick would take a plea deal and spare his siblings the anguish of a trial, and am seriously concerned about what Nick or his public lawyer will say to try to mitigate his sentence ?
Throwing shade at the deceased who cannot defend themselves ?
It's been done in past trials.

Right now it feels like a slam dunk (Nick was at the house and killed Rob and Michele and then left & took time to conceal the murder weapon, iirc.); but one never knows how it'll go, if there's a trial.
Omo.

 

[Sillybilly]

Hey everyone,

Posts have been removed. Please move on from the discussion and opinions of physical appearance.

Thank you.

 

[MistyWaters]

I’m curious, does anyone know if it’s typical for LE to apply for a court order to seal ME records, and does it expire after a specific duration of time? Otherwise how does it eventually get lifted?

BBM

Reiner Medical Examiner Records Under Wraps After Court Order - LAmag

Rob and Michele Reiner’s medical examiner records are under a security hold due to a court order initiated by the LAPD.

lamag.com

Rob and Michele Reiner’s medical examiner records are under a security hold due to a Dec. 24 court order initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department.

“While the cause and manner of death were previously released on these cases, due to the court order, the information is no longer available,” the Los Angeles County medical examiner shared in a statement. “No other case information or records, including the medical examiner report, can be released or posted on the website until further notice.”

It continued: “The department understands the public’s interest in these cases and remains committed to transparency when possible. Information will be made available once the court order is lifted.”

 

[SaraSmile]

Bbm. And Rob and Michelle were vehemently against the death penalty so if it becomes NRs fate well justice won't be personally for them. Moo

He was sentenced to death. Rob and Michele Reiner loved him like a son.

Nanon Williams was sent to death row for a murder he says he didn't commit. Decades later, through daily emails and weekly prison calls, the Reiners became family.

www.nbcnews.com

MOO

Some thoughts on DP and No DP

I believe Rob and Michele will get justice, as I think Nick is definitely going away, ( I think LWOP) which is the best outcome( can’t bring Rob and Michele back), protect society from Nick from now on, so violence does not happen to someone else in the future.

Abolishing DP may have been a cause of Rob and Michele Reiner, and maybe the family believes the same way. I understand this sentiment.

That said, family preferences really have very little bearing on the charges or the sentence. There are State laws, with standard charges and sentences, and the prosecutors and judges have to be even handed and fair, across all cases. It’s the States case, not the victims family’s case. The law is the law.

Remember, DP is mainly a bargaining chip in CA( moratorium RN). In my opinion, the State uses the threat of DP, to encourage plea deals, leading to LWOP, a very permanent solution. LWOP is less expense, faster, better solution, than a whole DP trial, appeals.

Ultimately, the Reiner case is the “CA State’s case”, and the state will decide DP or not DP.
Not to worry, I really believe this one will go LWOP. Since AJ is gone, hopefully, NGRI talk is almost over.

Yes, Nick is seriously mentally ill, but I believe, he can and will get stable enough to assist in his own defense, and to go to prison, where 45% of inmates are mentally ill. He will eventually see all the evidence, plea out, LWOP. JMO.

Just a few thoughts on DP or No DP.

MOO

California does not really have the Death Penalty.

From wiki:
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in the U.S. state of California.

However, the penalty has not been carried out in that state since 2006, due to a standing federal court order issued that year against the practice, and a 2019 moratorium on executions ordered by Governor Gavin Newsom.

 

[MistyWaters]

MOO

Some thoughts on DP and No DP

I believe Rob and Michele will get justice, as I think Nick is definitely going away, ( I think LWOP) which is the best outcome( can’t bring Rob and Michele back), protect society from Nick from now on, so violence does not happen to someone else in the future.

Abolishing DP may have been a cause of Rob and Michele Reiner, and maybe the family believes the same way. I understand this sentiment.

That said, family preferences really have very little bearing on the charges or the sentence. There are State laws, with standard charges and sentences, and the prosecutors and judges have to be even handed and fair, across all cases. It’s the States case, not the victims family’s case. The law is the law.

Remember, DP is mainly a bargaining chip in CA( moratorium RN). In my opinion, the State uses the threat of DP, to encourage plea deals, leading to LWOP, a very permanent solution. LWOP is less expense, faster, better solution, than a whole DP trial, appeals.

Ultimately, the Reiner case is the “CA State’s case”, and the state will decide DP or not DP.
Not to worry, I really believe this one will go LWOP. Since AJ is gone, hopefully, NGRI talk is almost over.

Yes, Nick is seriously mentally ill, but I believe, he can and will get stable enough to assist in his own defense, and to go to prison, where 45% of inmates are mentally ill. He will eventually see all the evidence, plea out, LWOP. JMO.

Just a few thoughts on DP or No DP.

MOO

Yes the state makes the final decision regarding sentencing however it’s of interest to note they do consult with the victims family.

In this video, almost at the end after the 13:00 minute mark, the DA of LA County is asked -
Q “I was just wondering, I know these types of cases can be especially difficult, how much do you take into account what the family wants when you’re dealing with a domestic situation like that? And does that factor into whether you will go after life w/o parole or possibly……
A In these cases like any of these cases we will take the uh thoughts and desires of the family into consideration in making our decision.

Thought I’d repost the “initial “ press conference right after the murders

 

[lohrtabitha]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014216418527433003

 

[BUF]

This is a really good article if you can access it. It goes into many of the places he was sent to during his endless decline of drug use….where his parents were always there supporting him and bailing him out….never giving up on him. He always appeared to have a sense of entitlement treating those he felt beneath him poorly…screaming, yelling, cursing and throwing tantrums so violent that a long time employee threatened to quit….coinciding with his drug use.

The Washington PostInside Nick Reiner’s life of privilege, pills and pain20 minutes ago

 

[lohrtabitha]

All in the Family: My Unlikely Connection To Nick, Rob and Michele Reiner

As a certified paranoid schizophrenic who inadvertently took my own mother’s life while going through my first major psychotic breakdown, I feel a great deal of empathy toward Nick Reiner.

www.madinamerica.com

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014216418527433003

Oh good, another defense attorney unable to defend the indefensible, turning to blaming the mental health industry instead.

MOO.

 

[Arkay]

This is a really good article if you can access it. It goes into many of the places he was sent to during his endless decline of drug use….where his parents were always there supporting him and bailing him out….never giving up on him. He always appeared to have a sense of entitlement treating those he felt beneath him poorly…screaming, yelling, cursing and throwing tantrums so violent that a long time employee threatened to quit….coinciding with his drug use.

The Washington PostInside Nick Reiner’s life of privilege, pills and pain20 minutes ago

I wish I could read this, but unfortunately it is paywalled for me.

Oh good, another defense attorney unable to defend the indefensible, turning to blaming the mental health industry instead.

MOO.

Yes, and why is this man still bloviating in public when he no longer represents Nick?

(Rhetorical question; we all know publicity drives the train of fame and fortune).

JMO

 

[freudianslip]

I wish I could read this, but unfortunately it is paywalled for me.

You can read it here : MSN

 

[Izzylizzy]

This is a really good article if you can access it. It goes into many of the places he was sent to during his endless decline of drug use….where his parents were always there supporting him and bailing him out….never giving up on him. He always appeared to have a sense of entitlement treating those he felt beneath him poorly…screaming, yelling, cursing and throwing tantrums so violent that a long time employee threatened to quit….coinciding with his drug use.

The Washington PostInside Nick Reiner’s life of privilege, pills and pain20 minutes ago

MSN

'Inside Nick Reiner’s life of privilege, pills and pain'​

 

[Arkay]

You can read it here : MSN

Thank you, @freudianslip, I was able to read the entire article through your link.

What these parents endured, and how they loved their troubled son.

 

[Izzylizzy]

2 hrs ago

 

[katydid23]

Nick Reiner ‘almost childlike in jail’ after parents’ alleged murders, Fox Nation documentary reveals

Nick Reiner is in no mental state to stand trial for the alleged murders of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, a new “TMZ Investigates” special on Fox Nation claims.

nypost.com

He {TMZ] claimed the killings had “all the markings of a meth murder” and that Nick had been using meth when he was “off the rails” after his medication switch-up, adding that he was arrested in a drug den.
...snipped...
Given the case shaping up against Nick Reiner, Levin also touched on why Alan Jackson, the high-profile attorney who previously represented Nick before stepping away from the case, maintains that he is not guilty.

“[Jackson] says [Nick] is not guilty. What he’s really saying is, not guilty by reason of insanity. And I think that’s gonna be the plea in this case, because there’s no way he’ll plead not guilty.”


OK, Those two statements above ^^^ seem to be in conflict with/each other.

----Nick was using meth and it had 'all the markings of a meth murder"...

----Nick is "Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity"

How can a defendant claim Insanity during the time they were using meth? I don't think you can claim insanity if you are also drunk or high on drugs you took purposely.


HOWEVER, there is a loophole apparently:

• Underlying Illness: If meth use triggers a latent, preexisting mental illness (such as schizophrenia), the defense might succeed because the root cause is considered a mental disease rather than just the drug.

So there is a chance that the defense can say it was the mental illness and NOT the meth that was triggering the violence that night.

I wonder how they can prove that distinction.

To me, schizophrenia describes a delusional unrealistic psychosis that would trigger the murders---like he falsely felt unfounded paranoia that made him lash out irrationally that night, etc [ like if he had attacked someone on the street that night because he felt they were evil and were following him, etc]

But if it was triggered by the use of meth, it would most likely be a reality based anger, something happened in real life that really triggered rage, and so he reacted to that trigger with physical violence. imo

 

[katydid23]

Watch Carl Reiner’s 1959 TV show Head of the Family. It’s a precursor to The Dick Van Dyke Show. Carl based the show on his own life as a TV writer, father and husband. In the pilot, Carl plays himself and deals with the conflict between himself and his son (Rob). It’s very significant in view of what’s happened.

---------
a comment from the Shame System video linked above

I/m going to try and find that video, could be fascinating

 

[katydid23]

Watch Carl Reiner’s 1959 TV show Head of the Family. It’s a precursor to The Dick Van Dyke Show. Carl based the show on his own life as a TV writer, father and husband. In the pilot, Carl plays himself and deals with the conflict between himself and his son (Rob). It’s very significant in view of what’s happened.

---------
a comment from the Shame System video linked above

I/m going to try and find that video, could be fascinating

WOW
That was a very telling pilot, written by Carl Reiner, all about his relationship with his son, Rob Reiner.

It was fascinating, given what we've seen about how Rob tried to negotiate his relationship with his son.

If you go to the link below, there is a 20 minute u-tube of the pilot written by Carl Reiner and it is all about Father/Son relationships and it is fascinating stuff given how things played out.

https://www.vulture.com/2013/03/head-of-the-family-the-pilot-for-the-dick-van-dyke-show-starring-carl-reiner.html