Nick Reiner, charged with the first-degree murders of his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer, made his initial court appearance on December 17 without comment, as details of his long battle with addiction—including a family-inspired film—come to light.
Following the discovery of director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, dead from multiple sharp force injuries in their Brentwood home on December 14—as previously reported—the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office has officially ruled the deaths homicides caused by wounds from a cutting object.
Nick Reiner, 32, one of the couple's sons and the suspect who lived with them, was arrested hours after the bodies were found by his sister Romy. Charged with two counts of first-degree murder, Nick appeared in court on Wednesday, December 17, after medical clearance. He remained silent during the hearing, with an instruction hearing set for January 7, 2026. He faces potential life imprisonment.
New details highlight Nick's troubled history with chemical dependency, which began at age 15 with rehab admission. By 2016, at age 22, he had undergone 17 treatments and shared his story in an interview. That year, he co-wrote 'Being Charlie', a semi-autobiographical film directed by his father about a young man's addiction relapses and recovery struggles—seen by fans as Rob Reiner's effort to connect with his son amid family challenges.