Rob and Michele Reiner were issued chilling warning over son Nick living at home before brutal murders

According to reports, Rob and Michele Reiner were cautioned that their son, Nick, living with them could be problematic because a change in his medication might cause unpredictable behavior.

Nick Reiner, 32, entered a not-guilty plea in Los Angeles court on February 23rd, regarding the murder of his parents. They were found stabbed to death in their $13.5 million Brentwood home on December 14th, two months prior.

I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s so heartbreaking. It’s come out that the Hollywood star’s son has been battling schizophrenia for a while now, and he’s been really open about his struggles with drug addiction in the past. What’s even more upsetting is that his siblings have reportedly stopped helping to pay for his legal defense now.

It’s been claimed that Nick stopped seeing his psychiatrist and switched medications just before Rob and Michele were killed.

According to a source who spoke with UsWeekly, doctors advised Rob and Michele to not allow Nick to move back home until his medication was properly managed.

Another source shared that the parents were assisting their son with his medication because it had stopped being effective.

According to a source close to the family, Rob and Michele were advised by their medical team not to let Nick stay with them. The concern was that changes to his medication could worsen his already unpredictable behavior.

Nick’s siblings have stopped funding his legal defense in the murder case against him. He’s accused of killing his parents, but he has entered a plea of not guilty.

Hours after the killings, he was arrested and has been held without bail.

Now that the case is progressing and could result in the death penalty, he is being represented by a lawyer appointed by the court.

According to sources close to Romy and Jake Reiner who spoke to TMZ, the couple doesn’t intend to bring on a new lawyer for their criminal defense.

We previously reported that well-known lawyer Alan Jackson was hired soon after the murders, but he later stopped representing the client because of a private dispute.

A public defender was assigned to the case last month as a possible short-term solution. But on Monday, Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene formally entered a plea of not guilty for Nick, indicating a more ongoing representation.

One source told TMZ, ‘Nick’s defense is Nick’s defense. They’re not involved.’

According to reports, Jake and Romy have decided to stop funding his legal defense and won’t be hiring a private lawyer for him.

It’s still unknown if the siblings will share their opinion on whether the prosecutors should seek the death penalty.

At a court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday, the 32-year-old man looked thin and tired, with dark circles under his eyes. He was dressed in brown prison clothes and sat with his shoulders slumped.

During his first court appearance, Nick was barely audible as he whispered ‘Yes’ when asked if he understood what was happening. This was the first time he’d been seen after being taken into custody.

His head was shaved as he looked into the crowded courtroom, as if searching for someone he knows.

An older woman waved to Nick, and he mouthed a greeting back to her and the man she was with.

This was Nick’s third time in court since his arrest in connection with the murders of his parents. For the first time, the judge, Theresa McGonigle of LA County Superior Court, permitted photographers to take his picture while he was in custody.

The death penalty is still on the table for Nick, LA County DA Nathan Hochman said.

Just after the brief three-minute hearing, Hochman spoke to reporters outside the courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles.

The case is progressing as planned. We’ve shared most of the evidence with the defense, and we’re currently waiting for the coroner’s report. Once we receive it, we’ll give it to the District Attorney’s Office and also make sure the defense receives a copy.

This case could result in the death penalty, so we carefully consider whether to pursue it. We follow a strict and thorough process when making that decision.

We’re carefully considering all factors that could lessen or worsen the situation. We’ve asked the defense lawyers to submit written arguments and a formal plea outlining why the death penalty should or shouldn’t be considered. This evaluation is still in progress.

He is due to appear in court again on April 29.

Nick had struggled with mental health for some time, and reports suggest he was under a mental health conservatorship five years before he was accused of killing his parents.

Around a month before his sister, Romy, discovered their parents deceased, he had changed the medication he took for schizophrenia.

This recent court visit for Nick follows closely after comedian Conan O’Brien publicly spoke about the loss of his parents.

Shortly before Rob and Michele were discovered, the filmmaker had an argument with Nick at O’Brien’s party.

‘It’s just so awful,’ O’Brien, 62, said in an interview with The New Yorker on Friday.

I became good friends with Rob and Michele, and my wife, Liza Powel O’Brien, and I spent a lot of time with them, getting to know them better and better, he explained.

They were wonderful people, and it was incredibly shocking to say goodbye, only to learn the next day that they had passed away. I was in disbelief for a long time afterward – I really couldn’t process it.

O’Brien shared that it’s still difficult for her to accept Rob’s sudden passing, remembering how passionate and engaged he was with current events and how dedicated he was to speaking out.

Sources say all three Reiner family members were at O’Brien’s holiday party on December 13th, and that the filmmaker and his son had a heated and public disagreement there.

Reports have surfaced indicating Nick is behaving in a way that seems very immature while incarcerated, and is currently unable to participate in legal proceedings.

According to Harvey Levin, an executive producer at TMZ, sources say Donald Trump is behaving almost like a child while in jail.

‘He can’t process the consequences of what he’s done. He knows what he did.

He’s completely lost and confused, and it sounds unbelievable, but he’s really not thinking clearly right now,” Levin explained.

Levin described the killings as ‘extremely violent.’ He added that even the medical examiner’s office staff were deeply disturbed by the images, experiencing trauma from what they saw.

According to a TMZ producer, the murders appeared to be connected to methamphetamine use, and Nick was reportedly using the drug at the time.

Before Nick’s court hearing, a lawyer specializing in legal matters suggested his defense attorney could argue he wasn’t mentally sound at the time of the alleged crime.

Lawyer Royal Oakes explained to the New York Post that addressing mental health concerns now is important. Delaying the discussion could damage an argument’s credibility, leading people to question why the issue wasn’t brought up sooner if it was truly a problem.

Now that Nick has pleaded not guilty, his lawyers might present evidence related to his mental health as part of the case later on, according to Oakes.

2026-03-04 19:23

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