Nick Reiner Enters Plea In Case Over Parents’ Killings

Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges that he murdered his parents, the filmmaker Rob Reiner and the photographer Michele Singer Reiner, in a case that has drawn national attention.

Reiner, 32, entered the plea during a brief arraignment in Los Angeles Superior Court. Appearing in custody, he stood behind a glass partition and spoke sparingly as a judge formally read the charges. His attorney, Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene, entered the not guilty plea on his behalf.

Prosecutors have charged Reiner with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbings of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on December 14, 2025. According to investigators, officers responding to the residence discovered both victims with multiple stab wounds. Reiner was arrested later that night and has remained in custody without bail.

Court filings allege that the victims sustained multiple “sharp force injuries,” though detailed autopsy findings have not been made public because of a court order. At this stage of the proceedings, a not guilty plea is a procedural step that allows the defense to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and prepare for trial.

Greene assumed representation after Reiner’s former private attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case earlier in the process for reasons that were not disclosed in court. When stepping aside, Jackson said that under California law, Reiner was “not guilty of murder,” but did not elaborate.

The charges include special circumstance allegations, a designation that can apply in cases involving multiple victims or other aggravating factors. If convicted, Reiner could face life in prison without the possibility of parole or, potentially, the death penalty. Prosecutors have not yet said whether they intend to seek capital punishment, which remains legal in California but is rarely carried out and subject to a lengthy and complex legal process.

LOS ANGELES – APR 11: Rob Reiner, Family at the 0th Anniversary Screening Of “When Harry Met Sally” at the TCL Chinese Theater IMAX on April 11, 2019 in Los Angeles, CA

The killings stunned the entertainment community. Rob Reiner built a decades-long career as a director, actor and producer, with credits that include This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men. Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer and producer who was active in creative circles and advocacy efforts, including work supporting LGBTQ causes. The couple had been married for decades and were widely regarded as influential figures in film and cultural life.

Investigators have not publicly outlined a motive. However, people familiar with the inquiry have said there were signs of tension within the family in the days leading up to the killings. The night before the deaths, the family attended a holiday gathering hosted by Conan O’Brien, where witnesses later described an argument between Rob Reiner and his son. Some attendees characterized Nick Reiner’s behavior that evening as erratic, according to accounts that have surfaced in media reports.

Reiner’s history includes documented struggles with mental health and substance abuse. Friends and acquaintances have described periods of instability in recent years, and he had reportedly been prescribed medication for schizophrenia before the incident. Those factors are expected to figure prominently in the defense’s strategy, particularly if questions arise about his mental state at the time of the killings.

Family members, including Reiner’s siblings, have largely remained out of public view since the deaths. In earlier statements, they described their grief as “unimaginable” and asked for privacy as they mourned.

The case now moves into the pretrial phase. A preliminary hearing, expected in the coming months, will determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence to move forward to trial. In the meantime, both sides are likely to litigate issues involving discovery, admissibility of evidence and, potentially, Reiner’s competency to stand trial.