A great deal has been said and speculated in the wake of the shocking murders of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner.
The couple were found dead at their home in Brentwood, California on Sunday, December 14. Early accounts suggested they both had lacerations consistent with a knife, while sources since have said they died after having their throats slit.
The couple’s troubled son, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, was arrested on the same day his parents’ bodies were discovered. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and may yet face the death penalty or life behind bars if convicted.
Given the Reiners’ fame and the morbid circumstances of their deaths, the case has been thrust into the media spotlight worldwide. Tributes have poured in from all manner of high-profile individuals, while the demand for information has been sated by thousands of news headlines over the past few days.
Perhaps the most tragic element of the whole case is the involvement of the aforementioned Nick, said to have been living in the guest house of his parents’ luxurious Brentwood mansion at the time of the killings.
Reports earlier this week claimed that Rob, Michele, and Nick had attended Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party on Saturday, December 13 – one day before the murders – where Rob and Nick had attracted the attention of other guests after being involved in a heated argument with one another.
As stated, Nick was arrested mere hours after the bodies of Rob and Michele were discovered. Romy Reiner, the couple’s daughter, reportedly entered the home after a massage therapist called her to say she couldn’t access the property for a scheduled appointment on Sunday afternoon.
The Times said that Romy “fled the house in anguish” upon finding her father’s body. Her roommate, who had accompanied her, called 911.
Much has been made over Nick’s alleged substance abuse and issues with mental health over the past few days. The 32-year-old himself previously spoke about his addiction and homelessness, telling the media in 2016 how he had been in and out of rehab since he was 15 years old. As his addiction got worse, he spent more and more time away from his family, living on the streets in various states.
A family friend of the Reiners – one who claims to have known Nick all his life – recalled a worrying incident as far back as the early 2000s when Nick, then aged 11, had an outburst so intense that Rob had to restrain him with a bear hug.
“It was terrifying really,” the friend said, as per the Daily Mail, describing Nick as having “so much anger in his eyes.”
They added: “This happened a lot, and he never outgrew it. He had tantrums in his 20s.”
Nick’s rages, it’s said, were frequent, with his parents often struggling to manage his behavior, which at times involved physical restraint.
The family friend cited above went on to claim that Nick’s presence at his parents’ home in recent years was disruptive. “He was a mess,” they said, recalling how Nick would often appear at the house “smelling of weed and sweat”.
“They had no control over him, when he was young, or when he got older,” they said. “He was always rude.”
For their part, Rob and Michele tirelessly endeavored to help their son, with Rob allegedly recognizing that Nick required constant care and support.
“He saw him as having an illness, a sickness, and babied him because of it,” the source said. “But the other kids were so good. They loved their parents dearly, they loved Nick. He was just the one who drove them to the edge.”
Rest in peace, Rob and Michele.
READ MORE
- The sentence Nick Reiner could face if found guilty of parents’ murder
- Resurfaced interview with Rob & Nick Reiner reveals sad truth about their relationship
