Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Dec. 14, having both suffered apparent stab wounds. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, their youngest son, Nick Reiner, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Rob and Michele shared three children: sons Jake, 34, and Nick, 32, and a daughter named Romy, who turns 28 later this month. It was initially reported that Romy found both her parents’ bodies at the house, and now, we have some more updates about how the tragic discovery allegedly played out.
The New York Times reported that the authorities were called at around 3:40 p.m. on Sunday when Romy went to her parents’ home to check up on them after she was contacted by a massage therapist who was unable to access the property. When Romy arrived, she allegedly discovered her dad’s body and “fled,” not knowing that Michele was also dead inside the house.
A source close to the family told the Times that Romy found out about her mother’s death when a paramedic later informed her.
Nick was apparently not at the property when his parents’ bodies were discovered. In a new press release, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office suggested that Rob and Michele were killed in “approximately the early morning hours” of Dec. 14, and that Nick “fled” the scene afterwards.
The 32-year-old was found later that evening in Exposition Park, near the University of Southern California campus, where he was arrested. Nick is now being held in custody without bail and is reportedly being represented by celebrity defence attorney Alan Jackson, who is perhaps best known for previously representing Harvey Weinstein. If convicted, Nick could be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
We’ll keep you posted with any updates.