Nick Reiner charged with murder of his parents - and could face death penalty

Rob Reiner's son Nick has been charged with murdering his parents and could face the death penalty.

Nick Reiner, 32, was charged with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders in the deaths of the 78-year-old director and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife.

"Prosecuting cases involving family violence are some of the most challenging and heart-wrenching we face because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes," District Attorney Hochman said.

"Rob Reiner was one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation. His murder and his wife of more than 35 years, Michele Singer Reiner's murder, are shocking and tragic.

"We owe it to their memory to pursue justice and accountability for the lives that were taken."

Mr Hochman said the charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, adding "no decision" has been made with respect to the death penalty.

Arraignment will be at an unspecified later date.

"This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones but for our entire city," LA Police chief Jim McDonnell said.

"We will continue to support the Reiner family and ensure that every step forward is taken with care, dignity and resolve."

Their tributes were a stark contrast to Donald Trump's response to the news, which prompted the US president to attack Mr Reiner as "tortured and struggling, but once very talented".

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said Mr Reiner and his wife died "reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME".

Read more: Rob Reiner spoke to Eric Idle about future before he was killed

It comes after it emerged Mr Reiner's son was reportedly disruptive at a party hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien the night before the killings.

Nick Reiner joined his father and mother at the event on Saturday - and the couple were upset and embarrassed about his behaviour, Sky News' US partner NBC News cited a source as saying.

They also expressed concerns about his health.

The outlet cited another source saying Nick Reiner's behaviour had made other guests uncomfortable.

They said he interrupted a conversation filmmaker Bill Hader was having with two guests and - when informed it was a private conversation - stood still and stared before storming off.

The couple were found dead from apparent stab wounds at their home in the Brentwood neighbourhood on the west side of Los Angeles.

Nick Reiner did not resist when he was arrested hours later in the Exposition Park area, near the University of Southern California, around four miles from the crime scene, police said.

He had been expected to make an initial court appearance earlier on Tuesday, but his attorney said he was not brought from jail to the courthouse for medical reasons, and the appearance would not happen before Wednesday.

Nick Reiner has not yet entered a plea.

Rob Reiner was a celebrated director, whose work included some of the most memorable films of the 1980s and 1990s, including This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men.

He met Michele Singer in 1989, while directing When Harry Met Sally, and they had three children together.

Michele used to work as a photographer and took the photo of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book Trump: The Art Of The Deal.

(c) Sky News 2025: Nick Reiner charged with murder of his parents - and could face death penalty