Jake and Romy Reiner, the children of Hollywood movie director Rob Reiner and his photographer-producer wife Michele Singer Reiner, issued a statement Wednesday in the wake of their parents’ deaths, according to The New York Times.
“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” the statement reads. “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.”
Nick Reiner, the couple’s middle child, made his first court appearance Wednesday morning after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ deaths.
The 32-year-old, who is being held without bail, briefly appeared in court but did not enter a plea. His defense attorney, Alan Jackson, said it was “too early” and requested that his arraignment be moved back. He will appear in court again on January 7, 2026.
It has emerged that Romy, 27, was called to her parents’ house Sunday afternoon by the couple’s massage therapist after there was no answer at the Los Angeles estate, whereupon she found her father’s body, The New York Times said.
Key Points
- Jake and Romy Reiner release statement honoring parents
- Police reveal where bodies of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer were found - video
- Nick Reiner makes brief court appearance - video
- New details emerge on shocking murder
Watch: Moment Nick Reiner is arrested before being charged for parents’ murder
11:00 , Joe SommerladRob and Michele Reiner’s cause of death revealed by medical examiner
10:30 , Joe SommerladThe couple died of “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to new records released by the Los Angeles County medical examiner.
Here’s more.
Rob and Michele Reiner’s cause of death revealed by medical examiner
Jerry Seinfeld says Rob Reiner had a crucial role in saving his career
10:00 , Joe SommerladHere’s another warm tribute to Reiner from the stand-up legend, who says his classic sitcom Seinfeld may never have happened without the director and his production company Castle Rock Entertainment.
Caitlin Hornik has it.
Jerry Seinfeld says his sitcom ‘never would have happened’ without Rob Reiner
‘They were a special force together’: Rob and Michele Reiner’s friends honor their love of film and country
09:30 , Joe SommerladSome of Rob and Michele Reiner’s closest friends, including actors Billy Crystal, Albert Brooks, Martin Short and Larry David, have released a statement mourning the couple and celebrating their love of film and country.
The group said in a statement first released to The Associated Press: “Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master storyteller.
“There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary, he was always at the top of his game. He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films.”
It continued: “His comedic touch was beyond compare, his love of getting the music of the dialogue just right, and his sharpening of the edge of a drama was simply elegant.”
Here’s more.
Rob and Michele Reiner’s friends honor their love of film and country in statement
Tribute: Rob Reiner was joy personified – and his movies were warm hugs
09:00 , Joe SommerladAs the creative force behind film classics including When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me and The Princess Bride, the filmmaker proved himself an expert in creating astonishingly kind and humane cinema.
His death is a shocking, senseless end to a remarkable life, writes Adam White.
Rob Reiner was joy personified – and his movies were warm hugs
Family friends said argument between Reiners hours before killing was ‘overblown’ as they provide new details on shocking murder
08:30 , Mike BediganNick Reiner, the youngest son of Hollywood director Rob and photographer Michele Reiner, appeared briefly in a Los Angeles court Wednesday morning after being charged with the murder of his parents.
The 32-year-old was arrested Sunday night after allegedly stabbing his parents to death in their Brentwood home. He did not enter a plea, but, if convicted, he could face the death penalty.
Reiner’s struggles with addiction were well-known, as were the lengths his parents went to in order to help and support him throughout their lives.
On the night before their deaths, guests at an A-list party recalled Rob Reiner chastising his son over his behavior – though accounts now differ as to how severe the argument were.
Keep reading:
.jpeg?trim=71,0,70,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
Arguments and addiction: New details give insight into time before Rob Reiner’s death
Watch: Police reveal where bodies of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer were found
07:30 , Katie HawkinsonPolice have revealed where the bodies of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found.
Officers discovered the couple in their bedroom, inside their Los Angeles estate.
Watch below:
Jake and Romy Reiner release statement honoring parents: 'They were our best friends'
06:00 , Katie HawkinsonJake and Romy Reiner released a statement Wednesday addressing their parents’ deaths, according to The New York Times.
Their brother, Nick Reiner, briefly appeared in court today after he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ deaths. He did not enter a plea, and his arraignment has been postponed to January 7.
“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,” Jake and Romy Reiner said.
“We now ask for respect and privacy, 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,” they added.
What is the 'special circumstance' added to Nick Reiner's charges?
04:30 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner was charged with two counts of first-degree murder Tuesday in connection with his parents’ deaths.
These counts include a “special circumstance of multiple murders,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
Special circumstances typically elevate the level of punishment, according to the California law firm Eisner Gorin LLP.
In California, a person convicted of first-degree murder without a special circumstance could face 25 years to life behind bars.
But when a special circumstance is added, someone convicted of first-degree murder could be sentenced to death, or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Hochman confirmed Tuesday that Reiner, if convicted, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. However, no decision has been made about whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty, he noted.
Watch: Nick Reiner makes brief court appearance
03:00 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner made a brief appearance in court Wednesday.
His defense attorney, Alan Jackson, asked the judge to postpone his arraignment. Jackson then gave a brief statement to reporters outside the courthouse.
Reiner is expected to appear in court again on January 7.
Watch below:
Rob Reiner’s final film delayed
01:30 , Kevin E G PerryThe release of Rob Reiner’s final film has been delayed following the death of the director and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
Reiner directed this year’s Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, a sequel to his groundbreaking 1984 rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. A follow-up concert film, Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale, had been set to arrive in cinemas next year.
However, Variety reports that the planned theatre and IMAX release has now been postponed indefinitely. A source told the publication that distributors Bleecker Street will wait until “the best path forward is decided with those closest to Rob and his family.”
Keep reading:
Behind the Headlines: The tragic truth about Rob Reiner’s son Nick and how his parents desperately tried to help him
00:00 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ deaths.
He has struggled with drug addiction since his teen years.
Katie Rosseinsky explores how the Reiners helped their son, and the heartbreak the family has endured:
The tragic truth about Nick Reiner and how his parents desperately tried to help him
Romy Reiner reportedly found her father dead
Wednesday 17 December 2025 22:55 , Katie HawkinsonRomy Reiner, the daughter of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, reportedly found her father dead in their Los Angeles home.
Romy was called to her parents’ house Sunday afternoon by the couple’s massage therapist, after there was no answer at the front gate, according to The New York Times.
After finding her father’s body inside, she fled the home in distress, the Times reports. Her roommate, who had accompanied her to the scene, then called 911.
Romy was unaware her mother had also died, and didn’t find out until paramedics told her, according to the outlet.
Romy and her brother, Jake Reiner, have since released a statement on their parents’ deaths.
“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,” they said.
What to know about Rob Reiner's film 'Being Charlie'
Wednesday 17 December 2025 22:25 , Katie HawkinsonRob Reiner directed the 2015 film Being Charlie, which his son, Nick Reiner, co-wrote.
The film was inspired by Nick’s experiences with drug addiction and homelessness.
The 32-year-old has struggled with addiction from a young age and entered his first drug treatment program at 15.
In a 2016 interview with People, Nick recalled his experience with homelessness.
“I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas,” he said. “I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun.”
“If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless,” he added.
Medical examiner releases death records for Rob and Michele Reiner
Wednesday 17 December 2025 21:53 , Katie HawkinsonThe Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office has released its reports on the deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
The reports indicate the Reiners died on Sunday from “multiple sharp force injuries.”
The reports also state the Reiners died at their home, a detail which police already confirmed.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Tuesday that their son, Nick Reiner, is accused of killing his parents with a knife.
Reiner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He briefly appeared in court Wednesday, but did not enter a plea.
Security footage captures Nick Reiner at convenience store hour before arrest
Wednesday 17 December 2025 21:45 , Katie HawkinsonSecurity camera footage recorded Sunday appears to show Nick Reiner at a convenience store just an hour before he was arrested, The New York Times reports.
The footage shows Reiner — who was wearing a striped shirt, baseball cap and red backpack — entering the store. He selected a Gatorade sports drink and paid for it at the register.
As he stood in line, Reiner appeared to fidget, sway in place and look around the store often, the Times reports.
Family friends said argument between Reiners hours before killing was ‘overblown’ as they provide new details on shocking murder
Wednesday 17 December 2025 21:30 , Mike BediganNick Reiner, the youngest son of Hollywood director Rob and photographer Michele Reiner, appeared briefly in a Los Angeles court Wednesday morning after being charged with the murder of his parents.
The 32-year-old was arrested Sunday night after allegedly stabbing his parents to death in their Brentwood home. He did not enter a plea, but, if convicted, he could face the death penalty.
Reiner’s struggles with addiction were well-known, as were the lengths his parents went to in order to help and support him throughout their lives.
On the night before their deaths, guests at an A-list party recalled Rob Reiner chastising his son over his behavior – though accounts now differ as to how severe the argument were.
Keep reading:
Arguments and addiction: New details give insight into time before Rob Reiner’s death
Reiners found dead in their bedroom, police say
Wednesday 17 December 2025 21:12 , Katie HawkinsonDominic Choi, assistant police chief at the Los Angeles Police Department, has revealed that officers discovered Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner dead in their bedroom.
“Upon arrival, officers located two deceased individuals inside the residence, later identified as Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner. Both victims were found in the master bedroom of the area of the home,” Choi told the Los Angeles Police Commission.
“Officers conducted a thorough search of the residence to determine whether there were any additional victims or suspects. No one else was located,” he added.
The Reiners were found Sunday afternoon. Just hours later, police located Nick Reiner, the couple’s youngest son, who has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
He was found near the University of Southern California and “taken into custody without incident,” Choi said.
Famed sportscaster shares decades-old conversation with Rob Reiner
Wednesday 17 December 2025 21:05 , Katie HawkinsonFamed sportscaster Ted Leitner shared a social media post detailing a conversation he had with Rob Reiner decades ago.
“Haunted by a conversation with Rob Reiner in San Diego decades ago,” Leitner wrote on X. “We were discussing our children realized we both had a toddler named Nick and Rob said ‘I love him SO much it’s almost like a physical pain.’ I can’t stop thinking about this wonderful man. Unspeakable horror.”
Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Rob and Michele Singer Reiner, was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ deaths.
Mourners left flowers, candles in front of the Reiners' Los Angeles home
Wednesday 17 December 2025 20:50 , Katie HawkinsonMourners have left flowers and candles outside the Reiners’ Los Angeles estate, located in the Brentwood neighborhood.
Pictures show a security guard standing watch near the couple’s front gate, which is decorated with holiday wreaths.
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their home on Sunday. Their daughter, Romy, reportedly found her father’s body.
Nick Reiner could be cut off from parents' inheritance under California law
Wednesday 17 December 2025 20:40 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
If Reiner is convicted, he could become ineligible to inherit his parents’ estate under a California law known as the “slayer statute.”
"California has what's called a slayer statute, which says if you kill someone that you're going to inherit from, you lose your inheritance and any right to serve as a fiduciary of their estate," attorney Sean Weissbart told People.
Nick Reiner's attorney refused to say who is paying him
Wednesday 17 December 2025 20:25 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson, has declined to answer questions about who is paying him to represent the 32-year-old, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Jackson spoke to reporters outside the Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, after Reiner made a brief court appearance. Jackson asked the judge to postpone Reiner’s arraignment until next month, arguing it’s “too early” for him to enter a plea.
Jackson is a famed defense attorney with experience representing several high-profile clients, including Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
Who are Jake and Romy Reiner?
Wednesday 17 December 2025 20:06 , Katie HawkinsonJake and Romy Reiner issued a statement Wednesday in the wake of their parents’ deaths.
“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 reads.
Jake is the oldest son of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. The 34-year-old has spent several years in the entertainment industry as an actor, producer and writer, People reports. He recently worked on Things Like This (2025), a romantic comedy film.
Jake also hosts The Incline, a podcast about the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Romy, the couple’s 27-year-old daughter, is also an actress and writer. She has appeared in several projects, including the comedy film You People (2023) and the horror film Voices (2020).
Meg Ryan shares emotional tribute to Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner
Wednesday 17 December 2025 19:45 , Katie HawkinsonMeg Ryan, the star of Rob Reiner’s iconic 1989 film When Harry Met Sally, has posted an emotional tribute to the famed director and his wife.
“Thank you, Rob and Michelle, for the way you believe in true love, in fairy tales, and in laughter. Thank you for your faith in the best in people, and for your profound love of our country,” Ryan wrote on Instagram.
“I have to believe that their story will not end with this impossible tragedy, that some good may come, some awareness raised… I don’t know, but my guess is that they would want that to be hopeful and humane, to be something that brings us all to a greater understanding of one another and to some peace,” she added.
Courtroom sketches show Nick Reiner's brief court appearance
Wednesday 17 December 2025 19:25 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner briefly appeared in court today after he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ deaths.
Courtroom sketches depict Reiner both sitting and standing. Reiner’s hands were shackled, and he wore a blue protective vest.
These vests are often used to prevent inmates from harming themselves.
Who are the prosecutors assigned to Nick Reiner's case?
Wednesday 17 December 2025 19:19 , Katie HawkinsonHabib Balian and Jonathan Chung are the prosecutors on Nick Reiner’s case.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney, Nathan Hochman, said Tuesday that the pair will bring “decades of experience to holding this murderer accountable.”
Both prosecutors have experience handling high-profile cases, The New York Times reports.
For example, Balian recently sought to block the re-sentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez, two brothers convicted of killing their parents in 1989. Their case has been the subject of several documentaries and crime dramas.
Rob Reiner’s final film delayed
Wednesday 17 December 2025 19:00 , Kevin E G PerryThe release of Rob Reiner’s final film has been delayed following the death of the director and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
Reiner directed this year’s Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, a sequel to his groundbreaking 1984 rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. A follow-up concert film, Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale, had been set to arrive in cinemas next year.
However, Variety reports that the planned theatre and IMAX release has now been postponed indefinitely. A source told the publication that distributors Bleecker Street will wait until “the best path forward is decided with those closest to Rob and his family.”
Keep reading:
Watch as Nick Reiner's attorney asks the judge to delay his arraignment
Wednesday 17 December 2025 18:40 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, asked a California judge to delay his client’s arraignment.
His arraignment will now take place on January 7.
Watch the hearing below:
What is the 'special circumstance' added to Nick Reiner's charges?
Wednesday 17 December 2025 18:20 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner was charged with two counts of first-degree murder Tuesday in connection with his parents’ deaths.
These counts include a “special circumstance of multiple murders,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
Special circumstances typically elevate the level of punishment, according to the California law firm Eisner Gorin LLP.
In California, a person convicted of first-degree murder without a special circumstance could face 25 years to life behind bars.
But when a special circumstance is added, someone convicted of first-degree murder could be sentenced to death, or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Hochman confirmed Tuesday that Reiner, if convicted, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. However, no decision has been made on whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty, he noted.
Jake and Romy Reiner release statement
Wednesday 17 December 2025 17:54 , Katie HawkinsonJake and Romy Reiner released a statement today addressing their parents’ deaths, according to The New York Times.
Their brother, Nick Reiner, briefly appeared in court today after he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ deaths. He did not enter a plea, and his arraignment has been postponed to January 7.
“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,” Jake and Romy Reiner said.
“We now ask for respect and privacy, 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,” they added.
In pictures: Nick Reiner's attorney requests arraignment delay
Wednesday 17 December 2025 17:40 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner briefly appeared in court today, but did not enter a plea. His attorney, Alan Jackson, requested that his arraignment be postponed.
Reiner will appear in court again on January 7.
Nick Reiner's attorney describes 'complex and serious issues' in case
Wednesday 17 December 2025 17:35 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, gave brief remarks outside the Los Angeles Superior Court following today’s hearing.
“First of all, and most importantly, this is a devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family,” Jackson said. “We all recognize that, our hearts go out to the entire Reiner family.”
‘There are very, very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case,” he added. “These need to be thoroughly, but very carefully, dealt with and examined and looked at and analyzed.”
Jackson reiterated that Reiner’s arraignment was postponed to next month.
“Nothing happened today. Substantively, we'll be back for an arraignment in the same department on the seventh of January,” he said.
Jackson asks to delay arraignment
Wednesday 17 December 2025 17:28 , Katie HawkinsonIn court, Nick Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, asked the judge to delay his arraignment.
The judge asked Reiner if he was waiving his rights to a “speedy arraignment.”
“Yes, your honor,” Reiner could be heard replying.
Both sides agreed to push the hearing. His arraignment is now scheduled for January 7.
Nick Reiner makes brief court appearance
Wednesday 17 December 2025 17:20 , Katie HawkinsonNick Reiner briefly appeared in court this morning, but did not enter a plea.
His attorney, Alan Jackson, said it was “too early” to enter a plea. Reiner’s arraignment has now been delayed until January 7.
