The daughter of Hollywood director Rob Reiner fled her parents' Los Angeles home in a state of profound shock after making the horrific discovery of her father's murdered body, it has been reported.
A Daughter's Traumatic Discovery
Romy Reiner, aged 28, was summoned to her family's $13.5 million Brentwood mansion on Sunday afternoon. A massage therapist, who had arrived for a scheduled appointment but could not gain entry, contacted Romy for assistance. Romy, who lives across the street with a roommate, went to the property and opened the door.
Inside, she encountered the gruesome scene of her father's lifeless body. So distressed by the discovery, she ran from the house in anguish, reportedly failing to notice that her mother, Michele Singer Reiner, was also slain within the residence. Her roommate called emergency services while Romy reached out to her father's longtime friend, actor Billy Crystal.
It was only when paramedics arrived at the scene that the full, grim reality was broken to her: both of her parents were dead.
Brother Arrested and Charged
Later that same day, Romy's older brother, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested in connection with the murders. He has since been formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors added special circumstances of multiple murders and an allegation that a knife was used as a dangerous weapon.
If convicted, Nick Reiner could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty. Nick is currently being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, where he has been placed on suicide watch.
Insiders told US Weekly that Nick had 'always been hostile and volatile' towards his family and that Romy had been 'traumatised by Nick's behaviour' for years.
A History of Struggle and a Grisly Motive
A motive for the double homicide remains unclear. Authorities announced on Tuesday that there was no indication Nick was under the influence of drugs at the time, despite a long and public history of substance abuse. By his own admission, Nick had been to rehabilitation 17 times by the age of 22 after his family issued an ultimatum: enter treatment or live on the streets.
'If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programmes they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless,' Nick once told People magazine, describing periods of homelessness in several US states.
A source close to the family stated that Nick's anger was often directed at his parents, despite their efforts to help him. 'They did everything a parent could possibly do to help him,' the insider said, describing a cycle of treatment, being kicked out, and returning home.
The tragedy unfolded less than 24 hours after Nick had attended a holiday party with his parents at the home of comedian Conan O'Brien. Reports suggest Rob and Michele brought him to the A-list gathering to 'keep an eye on him' amid recent struggles. Nick was reportedly asked to leave the party after badgering guests, including SNL comedian Bill Hader.
Police believe the Reiners were killed in the early morning hours of Sunday. A source close to the investigation told the Daily Mail they were found in bed with their throats cut and may have been asleep. Their bodies showed signs of rigor mortis, indicating they had been dead for several hours when discovered around 3:30 pm.
After the alleged crimes, Nick checked into a Santa Monica hotel at 4 am, where staff later found a shower 'full of blood.' He was arrested at a Los Angeles metro station in Exposition Park, approximately 15 miles from the crime scene, at around 9:15 pm on Sunday evening.
Nick Reiner is expected to make his first court appearance later this week.
