Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty Wednesday after a grand jury indicted him on murder charges in the stabbing deaths of his parents, actor-director Rob Reiner and photographer-producer Michele Singer Reiner.
The indictment, returned July 20 and unsealed Wednesday, charged Nick, 32, with two counts of murder and included special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and lying in wait. Prosecutors also alleged he used a knife.
“This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said.
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“The indictment unsealed today also adds a special circumstance allegation that the defendant committed the murders by means of lying in wait. We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice.”
Prosecutors claimed Nick fatally stabbed his father, 78, and mother, 70, on Dec. 14, 2025, at their Brentwood home.
Multiple agencies worked to find and arrest Nick, who was apprehended near the University of Southern California at approximately 9:15 p.m., hours after his parents’ bodies were discovered.
The 32-year-old initially pleaded not guilty to the double murder charges in February, one month after his powerhouse attorney, Alan Jackson, stepped down from the case.
Jackson told reporters during a news conference he had “no choice” but to withdraw from the case, citing circumstances beyond his and Nick’s control as to why he abruptly resigned from the case.
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“Circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick’s control have dictated that,” Jackson said during a news conference outside the courthouse.
“Sadly, it’s made it impossible for us to continue our representation of Nick. I’m legally and I’m ethically prohibited from explaining all the reasons why.”
Jackson remained adamant that Nick was “not guilty” of murdering his parents.
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“We’ve investigated this matter top to bottom, back to front,” Jackson said. “What we’ve learned — and you can take this to the bank — is that pursuant to the laws of this state, pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”
Jackson arrived at the Reiner home less than 24 hours after the couple’s bodies were discovered. Soon after, he signed on to represent Nick.
Kimberly Greene, the deputy public defender assigned to the case, spoke briefly with Nick after Jackson resigned and said Nick “was understanding that there was going to be a change in counsel.”
Nick is being held without bail and remains in custody at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles after formally being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents.
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He is scheduled to return to court Sept. 15. If convicted as charged, he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors have not decided whether to seek the death penalty.
