Disturbing new information has surfaced regarding the deaths of acclaimed film director Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, whose bodies were discovered at their Brentwood, Los Angeles home last Sunday.
How the Tragic Discovery Unfolded
According to a report in the New York Times, which cites an anonymous source close to the family, the initial alarm was raised by a massage therapist. The therapist arrived for a scheduled appointment on Sunday but was unable to gain entry to the property.
The concerned therapist then contacted the couple's daughter, Romy Reiner, who lives nearby. Romy went to the house and made the horrific discovery of her father's body. The Times reports that she "fled the house in anguish", unaware at that moment that her mother's body was also inside. It was Romy's roommate, who had accompanied her, who placed the call to emergency services at 911. Upon arrival, responders then found Michele Singer Reiner's body.
Son Charged and Family Narrative Disputed
Authorities have now formally charged the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, with two counts of first-degree murder. The charges include the special circumstance allegation of using a dangerous weapon, reported to be a knife. Nick Reiner is currently being held in custody without bail.
The source speaking to the New York Times contested several elements of the early media coverage. They clarified that while Romy informed emergency personnel that her brother lived in a guesthouse on the property, she did not identify him as a potential suspect during that initial interaction.
Furthermore, the source pushed back against widespread reports suggesting the Reiners had been particularly "apprehensive" about Nick's recent behaviour. Instead, they stated the family was "accustomed to working through [Nick's] problems together". This refutation extends to accounts of an incident at a party hosted by Conan O'Brien on the Saturday night before the bodies were found. While the source could not confirm whether Rob had "rebuked" his son for disruptive conduct, they insisted descriptions of a "heated argument" between the two were inaccurate.
Investigation Timeline and Legal Proceedings
LAPD chief Jim McDonnell stated on Tuesday that the coroner had not yet determined the precise time of death, noting it could have been late Saturday or sometime on Sunday. Media reports indicated the state of the bodies suggested they had been deceased for several hours.
Nick Reiner was arrested at approximately 9:30 pm on Sunday in the Exposition Park neighbourhood, roughly 15 miles from the family home. He was scheduled for an arraignment hearing on Tuesday, but his lawyer, Alan Jackson, said his client had not received medical clearance. His court appearance is now expected no earlier than Wednesday.
The case continues to develop as investigators piece together the final hours of the well-known couple and the events leading to this tragic outcome.
