Nick Reiner’s arrest caught on surveillance camera
Nick Reiner, the son of Rob Reiner, was arrested following the death of the acclaimed Hollywood director and his wife, Michele Singer.
Nick Reiner has officially been indicted for the stabbing deaths of his parents Michele and Rob Reiner.
Officials released the grand jury’s formal indictment Wednesday, Aug. 12, revealing the 32-year-old is facing two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait. Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced the indictment in a statement, saying, “This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing.”
Hochman also highlighted the new special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. Reiner faces an additional allegation “that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife,” according to the release.
“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,” Hochman said.
USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Nick Reiner for comment.
What is Nick Reiner accused of doing?
Reiner was arrested Dec. 14 after his father, acclaimed Hollywood director, 78, and mother, 70, were found dead in their Brentwood, California home earlier that evening. Authorities said Nick Reiner fatally stabbed the couple, who died from “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s preliminary findings.
Their death certificates listed Rob Reiner’s time of death as 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 14, and Michele Reiner’s as 3:46 p.m. local time.
Prosecutors filed formal criminal charges against Nick Reiner on Dec. 16, and he later pleaded not guilty. The latest indictment, which the D.A. said was returned July 20, adds the lying in wait circumstance to the previous murder charges.
In June, Reiner filed a petition for access to his trust fund, alleging he has been denied any of the money that he was entitled to receive when he turned 30, according to documents previously obtained by USA TODAY. In the filing, he said he is unable to pay for his legal counsel or “basic necessities while incarcerated.”
This came after his high-profile criminal defense attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew as counsel because of “circumstances beyond his control.” In a declaration in Reiner’s petition, Jackson said his “firm stands ready, willing, and able to resume representation of Mr. Reiner” if the funds become available.
The next court date for the trust fund case is set for later this month, and Reiner has another court date for the murder case in September.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, KiMi Robinson and Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY