Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were killed by “multiple sharp force injuries” in a gruesome double homicide at their Los Angeles home on Dec. 14, medical examiners confirmed Wednesday. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office posted the findings on its website without providing further details.
Status of investigation and time of death
The discovery that the couple died on Sunday came after some reports speculated that Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, may have been stabbed late Saturday evening after attending a Christmas party at the home of Conan O’Brien, which they attended with their 32-year-old son Nick, who has since been charged with the murders.
On Tuesday, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said prosecutors had identified the murder weapon as a knife.
Indictment and trial
He declined to comment on whether Nick has a history of mental illness in addition to his admitted struggles with addiction. “If there is evidence of mental illness, it will be presented in court and to the extent that the defense desires,” Hochman said.
Nick was charged with first-degree murder and appeared in court Wednesday wearing a blue suicide prevention gown and waist belt.
Possible penalty and moratorium
His arraignment was postponed until January 7 after his lawyer said it was “too early” to enter a plea in the “very, very complex” case. If convicted, he could theoretically face the death penalty.
Hochman said Tuesday his office was still evaluating whether to seek the death penalty. Governor Gavin Newsom has currently imposed a moratorium on executions in California.
Family and reactions
The Reiners had three children together. On Wednesday, her older son Jake, 34, and daughter Romy, 27, broke their silence to share their grief and thank supporters.
“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we experience every moment of every day. The cruel and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something no one should ever have to experience,” the siblings said in the statement issued to ROLLING STONE.
Appreciation of parents
“They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.” They expressed gratitude for the “flood of condolences” they had received. “We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be met with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they led and the love they gave,” they said.
Police operation and arrest
Police responded to a death investigation at the couple’s Brentwood home around 3:40 p.m. Sunday. Romy found the grisly crime scene and called for help, Rolling Stone previously confirmed.
Police said Nick was located near Exposition Park, not far from downtown Los Angeles, and was arrested around 9:15 p.m. on Sunday. He is being held without bail.
Career of Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner, the son of the late comedian Carl Reiner, played “Meathead” on the seminal sitcom “All in the Family.” He later directed the popular 1980s films “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand by Me,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “The Princess Bride” and “A Few Good Men.”
Before working with Nick on the 2016 film Being Charlie. Nick co-wrote the screenplay, loosely based on his struggles with heroin addiction, and Reiner directed.
Nick’s backstory
Nick told People in 2016 that he was 15 when he first entered rehabilitation. More than a dozen stints in rehab facilities followed, and he experienced homelessness in Maine, New Jersey and Texas.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the Reiners said they sought professional help for their son, but navigating his care was difficult.
Parents quotes
“The program works for some people, but it can’t work for everyone,” Reiner said. “When Nick told us it wasn’t working for him, we didn’t listen. We were desperate, and because people had diplomas on the wall, we listened to them when we should have listened to our son.”
Michele said she felt misled by professionals. “They told us he was a liar, that he was trying to manipulate us. And we believed them,” she said.
Meaning of “Being Charlie”
Being Charlie tells the story of the difficult, drug-addicted son of an actor with political ambitions in California. In a video interview with the AOL BUILD series in 2016, Rob Reiner called the film the “most satisfying creative experience” of his career.
“He forced me to see more clearly and understand more deeply what Nick had been through. And I think he forced him to see things that I had experienced in the process. And it definitely brought us closer together,” Reiner said. “It made me understand him a lot better.”