Rob Reiner's Son, Nick, Arrested for Murder of Parents
Nick Reiner, 32, detained hours after the bodies of the 78-year-old actor-director and his 70-year-old wife were discovered in their upscale Brentwood home.
Hollywood was shocked this week by the brutal double murder of acclaimed director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, whose 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with the crime.
Los Angeles police detained Nick Reiner hours after the bodies of the 78-year-old actor-director and his 70-year-old wife were discovered at their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday. Multiple reports indicate the couple had been stabbed to death or had their throats slit.
Los Angeles police chief Jim McDonnell confirmed the arrest, telling reporters, “He was subsequently booked for murder and is being held.”
The bodies were reportedly found on Sunday afternoon by the couple’s daughter, who immediately contacted police and named a family member as the killer.
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Son’s History of Addiction
The suspect, Nick Reiner, has publicly struggled with a history of substance abuse and homelessness, which began in his teenage years. His experiences formed the basis of the 2015 semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which he made in collaboration with his father. Media reports suggest the younger Reiner had argued with his parents at a Hollywood party on Saturday evening, just before the deaths. In a 2015 interview, Nick had expressed gratitude, saying he was "lucky" to have parents that "care about me."
Tributes and Political Backlash
As shock and grief radiated through Hollywood, tributes poured in for the beloved director of classics such as This is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, and A Few Good Men.
Author Stephen King, whose novella The Body was the basis for Reiner's film Stand By Me, lauded him as a "wonderful friend." Actress Kathy Bates, who won an Oscar for her role in Misery, described Reiner as "brilliant and kind." Other tributes came from Ben Stiller and former President Barack Obama, who said he was "heartbroken" by the news.
The tragedy took a political turn when President Donald Trump issued a statement suggesting that Reiner, a politically active and outspoken supporter of progressive causes, brought on his own murder by criticizing him, a comment that was immediately blasted by prominent Republican figures as "inappropriate and disrespectful."