In the wake of the tragic loss of their father, Rob Reiner, and mother, Michele Singer Reiner, the couple’s children, Jake and Romy, have broken their silence amid brother Nick Reiner being the “main suspect” in the case.
The legendary filmmaker and his wife were found deceased with multiple knife wounds inside their Los Angeles home on Sunday afternoon, December 14, and were discovered by their youngest child, Romy.
Nick, who was arrested the same day by authorities, was completely left out of his siblings’ latest comments.
“They didn’t just lose their parents, in a sense, they also lost their brother. Knowing that has to be weighing heavy on them,” one user wrote.
Jake Reiner and Romy Reiner addressed the family tragedy in an emotional statement, making no mention of their brother, Nick Reiner
Rob and Michele Reiner’s “troubled” son, Nick, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree m*rder, including the special circumstance of multiple m*rders, and made his first court appearance on Wednesday, December 17.
Around the same time, his siblings Jake and Romy released a public statement describing the “unimaginable pain” the family is experiencing following the loss of their parents.
The siblings said in the statement, “Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day.”
“The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”
The statement continued, “We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life.”
“They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends,” the siblings said while addressing the loss of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner
While Jake and Romy refrained from directly mentioning their brother or his ongoing legal proceedings, they emphasized their request for “respect and privacy” during this time.
They also subtly alluded to Nick’s arrest, adding, “For speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.”
The statement underscored the profound grief felt by the family, particularly the youngest sibling, Romy, who, according to multiple reports, was the one who discovered her parents and alerted the authorities.
One sympathetic netizen wrote, “I keep thinking about their daughter who found them at the scene! She will never unsee that.”
Another added, “They lost their brother too. I’m so sorry for their loss. No one should have to suffer like that… I feel awful for the family. What a terrible tragedy.”
A third expressed, “They shouldn’t mention his name ever again. He doesn’t deserve to be remembered as a family member anymore after what he did. I feel so heartbroken for the other kids.”
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner officially confirmed the cause of the Reiner couple’s demise on Wednesday, stating that both passed away from “multiple sharp force injuries,” with the manner of passing ruled a homicide.
The “troubled” Nick has been arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and is facing two counts of first-degree m*rder
During his Wednesday court appearance, Nick did not enter a plea, and his arraignment was postponed until January 7, when he will have the opportunity to do so.
In courtroom sketches released to the public, the 32-year-old was shown wearing a jail-issued su*cide-prevention smock, with his arms shackled.
His attorney, Alan Jackson, told reporters outside the courthouse following the brief hearing that there were “complex and serious issues” in the case that needed to be worked through.
“We ask that during this process, you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move forward.”
Jackson added, “Not with a rush to judgement, not with jumping to conclusions, but with restraint and with dignity, and with the respect that this system and this process deserves, and that the family deserves.”
According to criminal defense attorney Seth Zuckerman, who spoke to the BBC, the delay in Mr. Reiner entering a plea may be intended to allow time for a psychiatric evaluation.
Until his next court hearing, Nick will remain in custody at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, though prosecutors have noted that the d*ath penalty remains a potential outcome.
However, officials emphasized that “no decision at this point has been made with respect to the d*ath penalty.”
Earlier, Tracy Reiner, whom Rob adopted during his first marriage to Penny Marshall, was quoted by NBC News as saying the tragedy left her devastated.
The late When Harry Met Sally director’s eldest daughter, Tracy Reiner, also broke her silence in a “furious” message posted on Facebook
She said, “I came from the greatest family ever. I don’t know what to say. I’m in shock.”
Shortly afterward, however, a Facebook account claiming to belong to Tracy denied that she had made those remarks.
The post read, “I was not even in the state. I did not make those comments. And am furious I was used as a fkn lead story and then put on wire.”
“Please leave family and friends alone for a while ffs. I never speak to any press.”
“What a nightmare for his surviving children… They have to live through the aftermath of this situation,” echoed netizens
