Nick Reiner, son of actor and director Rob Reiner and photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner, faces aggravated murder charges in the deaths of his parents, which could lead to a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman reported Tuesday.
Hochman announced his office would charge Nick Reiner with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances for killing more than one person.
The prosecutor also noted that in addition to the homicides, he is accused of having himself used a deadly weapon, in this case a knife, to commit the crimes and added that the charges could carry “life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.”
“At this time, no decision has been made regarding the death penalty we have requested, and Nick Reiner is currently being held without bail,” Hochman said.
The prosecutor emphasized that the charges against Reiner’s son did not constitute evidence and that the evidence would be presented before a special jury that would approve the charges.
The couple’s second son was arrested Sunday evening without incident: “There was no indication that he was going to resist or need help in any way. He didn’t try to run away or anything like that,” Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Alan Hamilton said.
Charges against Nick Reiner will be officially filed later today, Hochman reported, and once the defendant is cleared, he will appear in court to be arraigned on the charges and will enter a guilty or not guilty plea.
Director and actor Rob Reiner, 78, known for his work in films such as “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” was found dead Sunday at his Los Angeles home with his wife, producer and photographer Michele Reiner, 70.
The Reiners were found dead by one of their daughters, who called police and said a family member was responsible for their parents’ deaths, according to TMZ.
Shortly after, his son Nick, who lived in a house next door to his parents’, was arrested after struggling for decades with drug and alcohol addiction.
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