Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner's other two children spoke out for the first time as their brother: Nick Rayner, appeared in court stand trial on charges of murdering his parents.
Jake and Romy Reiner released the following statement on Wednesday:
“Words cannot even describe the unimaginable pain we experience every moment of the day. The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michelle Reiner, is something no one should ever have to endure. They weren't just our parents; they were our best friends.”
“We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness and support we have received not only from family and friends, but from people from all walks of life. We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.”
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Rob Reiner he had another adopted child, Tracy Reiner, from his previous marriage to actress Penny Marshall. They were together for 10 years, starting in 1971.
The director of When Harry Met Sally… met photographer Michelle Singer while working on the romantic comedy. In an interview with AV Club in 2016, he said that meeting her led him to change the ending of the film so that Harry and Sally ended up together.
The couple married in 1989, the same year the film was released. They had three children.
Their youngest, 28-year-old Romy Rainer, is a photographer and artist.
Jake Reiner, 34, their eldest, was a news reporter in Texas and California, including at CBS in Los Angeles, before following in his father's footsteps. He has appeared in several television shows and films, including Being Charlie, which was directed by his father.
Nick Rayner was also mentioned as a writer in the book Being Charlie. The film, which tells the story of a teenager struggling with drug addiction and going through rehab, is “very much based on what Nick went through and his relationship with me and his mother,” Rob Reiner said in a 2016 interview. AOL Interview next to his son. “It was intense. It was difficult at times.”
A 32-year-old man has been charged. two counts of first degree murder under special circumstances in the murder of his parents, who were found dead in his home over the weekend, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. The prosecutor said the charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole or the death penalty, but his office has not yet decided what penalty to apply.
The district attorney's office said in a statement that Rob and Michelle Reiner were stabbed to death. The Los Angeles County medical examiner confirmed Wednesday that their cause of death was “multiple sharp force injuries.” As of Wednesday morning, it was not clear exactly when the attack occurred or how long the couple had been dead before their bodies were discovered Sunday. The previous day, they went to Conan O'Brien's party, where Rob and Nick Reiner had a short but loud argument, sources who were there told CBS News.
Nick Rayner has not entered a plea. He appeared in court Wednesday and said only “yes, your honor” to agree to an arraignment date.
Police have not released details about the evidence in the case or any information about a possible motive or what led them to arrest Nick Rayner.
Newly released video shows Nick Rayner at a gas station convenience store hours after the murder and just moments before he was arrested Sunday. Video from outside the store shows LAPD arriving and arresting him. According to police, he did not resist arrest.
He is currently being held without bail in a downtown Los Angeles jail.
