Los Angeles authorities say film director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, were discovered dead inside their Brentwood residence, both having suffered multiple stab wounds.
As per Fox News, the couple was found in the primary bedroom of their home, according to LAPD Assistant Police Chief Dominic Choi.
Choi confirmed the details Tuesday during a formal briefing to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, as investigators continued to piece together the events surrounding the killings.
Their son, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, has been charged with the double homicide and made his first court appearance on Wednesday.
Los Angeles authorities say film director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, were discovered dead inside their Brentwood residence, both having suffered multiple stab wounds.
As per Fox News, the couple was found in the primary bedroom of their home, according to LAPD Assistant Police Chief Dominic Choi.
Choi confirmed the details Tuesday during a formal briefing to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, as investigators continued to piece together the events surrounding the killings.
Their son, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, has been charged with the double homicide and made his first court appearance on Wednesday.
Wearing a blue suicide prevention vest, Reiner stood before a judge and confirmed he was waiving his rights when asked, responding, “Yes, your honor.” His arraignment has been scheduled for Jan. 7.
A day earlier, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman publicly announced the charges at a joint press conference with LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.
“These charges will be two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders,” Hochman said. “He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.”
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that both Rob and Michele Reiner died from multiple sharp force injuries. While other significant conditions contributed to their deaths, officials ruled the manner of death a homicide and identified Dec. 14 as the date they were killed.
Nick Reiner was arrested Sunday night, after police located him near the University of Southern California campus at approximately 9:15 p.m. He was initially booked on $4 million bail. Jail records now indicate he is being held without bail and was transferred Monday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
New details have also emerged about the days leading up to the killings. Family friends told the Los Angeles Times that Nick Reiner had an argument with his parents the night before their deaths while attending Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party. Several attendees reportedly noticed erratic behavior.
“Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous,” a source told People.
In the wake of the tragedy, Rob and Michele Reiner’s other children, Jake and Romy Reiner, released a statement expressing their grief.
“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” the statement provided to Fox News Digital read. “The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”
They added, “We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life.”
“We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.”
Shortly after Nick Reiner’s court appearance, his attorney, Alan Jackson, addressed reporters and acknowledged the complexity of the case.
“First of all, and most importantly, this is a devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family,” Jackson said. “We all recognize that, our hearts go out to the entire Reiner family.
“There are very, very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case that needs to be thoroughly but very carefully dealt with, and examined and looked at and analyzed.”
THE THIRD FORCE
