Los Angeles: Nick Reiner, the son of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner, has been arrested and booked on a homicide charge following the deaths of his parents at their Los Angeles home, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department official confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday.
The official said the 32-year-old was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department and remains behind bars. Online jail records show that Nick Reiner is being held on $4 million bail, and it is not yet known whether he has retained legal representation.
Couple Found Dead in Brentwood Home
The arrest comes a day after authorities discovered Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele Reiner, 68, deceased inside their residence in the upscale Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid call shortly after 3:30 pm on Sunday, where first responders found a man and a woman dead inside the home.
A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said authorities believe the couple suffered stab wounds, and that a family member was being questioned soon after the discovery.
Police Call It an ‘Apparent Homicide’
Detectives from the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division are leading the investigation. Capt. Mike Bland described the case as an “apparent homicide.”
While police have not formally released the victims’ names, multiple law enforcement sources identified them as Rob and Michele Reiner.
Killings are rare in Brentwood, a neighbourhood known for housing numerous celebrities. The crime scene is located roughly a mile from where Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered in 1994.
Family Discovery and Ongoing Probe
According to media reports citing law enforcement sources, the couple’s daughter, Romy Reiner, discovered the bodies and alerted police. She reportedly told authorities she believed a family member could be responsible. Police have not publicly confirmed these details.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not released a motive.
Nick Reiner’s Past Struggles
Nick Reiner has previously spoken openly about his battles with drug addiction and homelessness. In a 2016 interview, he said he first entered rehabilitation at the age of 15 and went through multiple treatment programs over the years.
He later co-wrote the semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which explored addiction, recovery and strained family relationships.
Rob Reiner’s Legacy
Rob Reiner was one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers, directing celebrated films such as This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and A Few Good Men.
Before moving behind the camera, he became a household name playing “Meathead” on the iconic 1970s television series All in the Family, earning two Emmy Awards.
The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner married photographer Michele Singer Reiner in 1989. The couple had three children together.