Nick Reiner, with a Newly Shaved Head, on Verge of Tears as He Appears for Arraignment Over Parents' Killings
- - Nick Reiner, with a Newly Shaved Head, on Verge of Tears as He Appears for Arraignment Over Parents' Killings
Tommy McArdle, Danielle BacherJanuary 8, 2026 at 5:32 AM
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Nick Reiner on Dec. 14, 2025 -
Nick Reiner arrived in court with a newly shaved head and appeared visibly emotional as his arraignment began in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 7
Nick, 32, is facing two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner, who were found dead in their home on Dec. 14
Nick's attorney Alan Jackson withdrew from the case during the arraignment on Jan. 7, which was then rescheduled for Feb. 23
Nick Reiner appeared in court with a newly shaved head as he arrived for his arraignment on murder charges regarding the slayings of his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead inside their Brentwood, Los Angeles, home on Dec. 14.
Nick, 32, wore a khaki jumpsuit and a five o'clock shadow to the arraignment in L.A. on Wednesday, Jan. 7 as he arrived with attorney Alan Jackson. His hands remained cuffed as he sat through the hearing, during which Jackson withdrew from the case and Nick was reassigned a public defender. Nick, who appeared on the verge of tears during his appearance in court, waived his right to finish his arraignment on Jan. 7, and the court proceedings were rescheduled for Feb. 23.
PEOPLE confirmed on Monday, Jan. 5 that Nick was no longer on suicide watch at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles prior to the arraignment, according to an L.A. County sheriff's source. He was previously placed under heightened supervision when he entered the jail system on the morning of Dec. 15 and has been held in solitary confinement in the weeks since he was arrested in connection with his parents' death.
In solitary confinement, he is required to wear a jail-issued shirt and blue pants, according to the sheriff's source; the jail has removed the suicide-prevention smock he was previously required to wear at all times and wore during his first court appearance in the murder case on Dec. 17.
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Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner
Nick faces two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents, director Rob, 78, and photographer Michele, 70. The L.A. County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE Dec. 17 that the couple died from "multiple sharp force injuries."
Nathan J. Hochman, the L.A. County district attorney, is also pursuing a murder conviction with “special circumstances,” a designation that could make Nick eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
In the years leading up to their deaths, there were signs of concern at the Reiners’ home. Police previously responded to welfare-check calls at the Los Angeles residence, records obtained by PEOPLE on Jan. 2 show. In 2019, officers went to the home twice while their son Nick was living there — once for a call coded as a welfare check and once for a call classified as mental health–related.
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Rob Reiner and Nick Reiner in 2016
Nick was reportedly being treated for schizophrenia before the deaths of his parents. The Los Angeles Times and KNBC both reported, citing sources, that Nick was being treated with medication for the mental illness. Schizophrenia is a widely misunderstood — but treatable — condition, characterized by symptoms of psychosis, psychiatrist Dr. Molly “Mary” Conlon told PEOPLE. Conlon oversees the inpatient program at Northwell Health’s Zucker Hillside Hospital and is not connected to Nick, his treatment or the case.
Rob and Michele first met while he was directing When Harry Met Sally… and later married in 1989. They also shared son Jake, 34, and daughter Romy, 28, in addition to Nick; Rob also shared daughter Tracey, 61, with his first wife, the late actress Penny Marshall.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
