Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested on Sunday December 14, 2025 and was taken into custody at around 9:15 p.m. local time. His arrest was in connection with his parent’s deaths, director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
In some reports, it shows that early jail listings include a $4 million bail, but other late reports have clarified that Nick is being held without bail as detectives move the case towards prosecutors.
According to People Magazine, firefighters and police were called to the Reiners’ Brentwood home on Sunday afternoon, after a “medical aid” request. First responders found a man, 78, and a woman, 68, dead inside the residence. Authorities began treating the scene as a homicide immediately. Multiple reports, including NBC Los Angeles and CBS News, said the couple’s daughter Romy discovered them.
Conan O’Brien’s holiday party
“Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous.” That’s how one source described the mood at Conan O’Brien’s holiday party the night before the deaths, in a detail People reported while noting multiple accounts from partygoers.
Reports from People and TMZ suggest Rob Reiner and his son got into a loud argument during the gathering. TMZ broke the news of that blowup first, describing it as loud enough for other guests to hear, with the family leaving soon after.
Currently, these reports are based on unnamed sources and secondhand recollections only at this point.
Inside the Brentwood home
It was reported that there was no sign of forced entry, which is a key detail hanging over the case. The Los Angeles Times reported this fact, and that the injuries were consistent with stabbing, a point that’s also been echoed in continued coverage.
Detectives from the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division took control of the scene, with CNN reporting through a syndicated update that homicide investigators were working at an address associated with Reiner. NBC Los Angeles also noted LAFD paramedics responded around 3:30 p.m. as the investigation ramped up.
Nick Reiner’s past has been discussed publicly for years, and now it’s being pulled back into the spotlight in the worst possible way. People Magazine noted he previously spoke about addiction and periods of homelessness, and that his struggles helped inspire Being Charlie, the 2015 film he co-wrote with his father. The Guardian also highlighted how quickly the case moved once police focused on him Sunday night.
Despite the continued shocking coverage, tributes immediately started pouring in. The family also released a statement asking for privacy as they processed the loss.
Sadly, coverage also turned political fast after public figures weighed in, adding noise to a story that’s already heavy.
People reported police located Nick about six hours later near the USC area and that he was expected in court Tuesday, December 16, as investigators prepared their case. Like always, an arrest is not a conviction, and what’s proven in court matters more than what anyone thinks they heard at a party.
For people in my age group, Reiner wasn’t just a name on a headline. When I was growing up, his movies were the ones you rewatched because they were safe, funny, heartfelt, and familiar. That’s part of why this story lands like a gut punch for most fans who remember his contribution to entertainment.