The Case of Rob and Michele Reiner

Filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were stabbed to death at their Brentwood home in Los Angeles on December 14, 2025. Their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested hours later and charged with both murders. A grand jury subsequently indicted him on two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances alleging multiple murders and lying in wait.

Rob Reiner was an acclaimed American filmmaker, actor, writer and producer whose career included directing This Is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally... and A Few Good Men. Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer and producer who had been married to Rob since 1989. The couple lived in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles and had three children. Their youngest son, Nick Reiner, had worked with his father on the 2015 film Being Charlie, which was inspired by Nick's struggles with addiction and his relationship with his father. On the night of December 13, 2025, Rob and Nick attended a Christmas party hosted by Conan O'Brien. Reports later emerged that the two had an argument during the evening, although the precise nature and significance of that argument has not been established publicly.

In the early morning hours of December 14, 2025, prosecutors allege that Nick Reiner fatally stabbed both of his parents inside their Brentwood home. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that both Rob and Michele died from multiple sharp force injuries and classified both deaths as homicides. Their bodies were discovered later that afternoon. At approximately 3:40 p.m., the couple's daughter, Romy Reiner, went to the residence after becoming concerned about her parents. She discovered her father's body inside the home and emergency services were called. Police subsequently discovered Michele's body as well. The investigation established that both deaths had resulted from knife wounds.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives from the Robbery-Homicide Division responded to the residence and began investigating the deaths as a double homicide. The investigation quickly focused on Nick Reiner. According to the LAPD, detectives determined that Nick was responsible for his parents' deaths during the initial investigation. Nick left the residence after the killings. At approximately 9:15 p.m. on December 14, officers located and arrested him in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles. He was booked on suspicion of murder and held without bail. On December 16, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office formally charged Nick with two counts of murder, with a special circumstance allegation involving multiple murders and an allegation that he personally used a knife as a deadly weapon. Nick initially did not enter a plea during his first court appearance. On February 23, 2026, he pleaded not guilty to both murder charges. The case subsequently went before a Los Angeles County grand jury. On July 20, 2026, the grand jury returned an indictment that was unsealed on August 12. The indictment charged Nick with two counts of first-degree murder and added the special circumstance allegation that the murders were committed by means of lying in wait, in addition to the multiple-murder allegation and use of a knife. The prosecution has not publicly established a motive for the killings.

Nick Reiner has not been convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. The grand jury indictment alleges multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait, as well as personal use of a knife. If convicted as charged, Nick could face life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors had not announced as of August 2026 whether they would seek the death penalty. Nick remains in custody without bail. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for September 15, 2026.

The case received enormous international attention because the victims were Hollywood filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, and because their son was accused of killing both parents inside their family home.