A grand jury in Los Angeles County has charged Nick Reiner with murder in the deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, and accuses him of lying in wait before the attack. The indictment was issued on July 20 after meeting in secret and was made public when 32-year-old Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty.
Rob Reiner, a well-known director and actor, and his wife, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner, were fatally stabbed in their Brentwood home on December 14. Nick Reiner was swiftly arrested and formally charged two days later.
The grand jury’s decision marks a significant progression towards trial, allowing prosecutors to bypass the preliminary hearing process in California. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the case as a deep betrayal by someone the victims trusted and loved.
The unsealed indictment does not provide many new details but reveals that Nick Reiner could face the death penalty due to the lying in wait allegation. The use of a knife in the killings is also mentioned in the indictment, although specifics about the incident remain undisclosed to the public. Motives behind the killings remain unknown, with minimal leaks from both sides.
The Los Angeles County chief medical examiner expressed a desire to release the autopsy reports but has been restricted by a court order. Additionally, Nick Reiner is currently pursuing funds from a trust established by his parents to aid in his defense. He is seeking to rehire high-profile defense lawyer Alan Jackson, as his family stopped funding his defense, leading to representation by a public defender.
A court hearing on the trust funds issue is scheduled for the upcoming week. The L.A. County Public Defender’s Office, representing Reiner, declined to comment on the indictment. Prosecutors in California have the option to pursue charges through a public preliminary hearing or via a secret grand jury indictment, as seen in this case involving Nick Reiner.