Nick Reiner, 32, is accused of fatally stabbing his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, in their Los Angeles home last December. A new grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges that Reiner was lying in wait before killing his parents.
Reiner pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two counts of murder with a special circumstance. The indictment, which allows prosecutors to bypass California's preliminary hearing process, did not specify details about Reiner's alleged actions on the night of the killings. "This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing," prosecutors stated.
The grand jury returned the indictment on July 20, amplifying the charges with the special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. This allegation makes Reiner eligible for the death penalty, although the state has a temporary halt on executions. Prosecutors have not yet indicated if they will seek this penalty. "We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice," said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Reiner also faces a special allegation for personally using a knife in the killings, which is considered an aggravating factor under California law due to the weapon's dangerous nature. He is scheduled to appear in court again on September 15 for a hearing. In February, Reiner had entered an initial not guilty plea to charges brought in the case.
Rob Reiner, 78, known for directing films such as "This Is Spinal Tap," "Misery," and "A Few Good Men," and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found dead in their Brentwood home on December 14. Their daughter reportedly discovered their bodies. The Los Angeles County medical examiner determined the cause of death to be "multiple sharp force injuries." Nick Reiner was arrested the same day.
Jake Reiner, the couple's eldest son, shared in April that his world "collapsed" following his parents' deaths and his brother's subsequent arrest and charges. He wrote on the platform Substack that "nothing compares to losing both of them at the same time and, on top of that, having your brother be at the centre of it."