Nick Reiner lay in wait before killing his parents, prosecutors allege

Key Points:

• Nick Reiner, 32, was indicted on murder charges for fatally stabbing his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, in their Brentwood home in December; the new indictment includes a special circumstance of lying in wait, which could lead to life without parole or the death penalty.
• Rob and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death on December 14, with their daughter discovering the bodies and Nick Reiner arrested about 12 hours later; he pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with special allegations including use of a deadly weapon.
• The indictment bypasses a preliminary hearing, expediting the trial process and protecting witnesses from public testimony about the violent crime; prosecutors emphasized the betrayal by a trusted family member.
• No motive has been publicly disclosed, though Nick Reiner had publicly discussed struggles with mental health and addiction; he previously collaborated with his father on a film exploring addiction’s impact on family relationships.
• Rob Reiner was a renowned director and actor known for films like “When Harry Met Sally…” and “Stand by Me”; the district attorney has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty, and Nick Reiner remains held without bail with a pretrial hearing set for September 15.