Rob Reiner son Nick Rayner appeared in court for the first time Wednesday on two counts of first-degree murder. in killing his parents.
Nick, 32, appeared briefly in court but did not enter a plea. His arraignment continued until January 7.
His lawyer Alan Jackson told the court it was “too early” to enter a guilty plea and that he had already agreed with the prosecution to defer arraignment until January.
“This is a devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family. We can all acknowledge that. Our hearts go out to the entire Reiner family,” Jackson told reporters outside the courthouse in Los Angeles.
Jackson said there were “very complex and serious issues” surrounding the case.
“Everything has to be very carefully, but very carefully, reviewed, studied, considered and analyzed,” Jackson said.
Romy Reiner and Jake Reiner released a statement Wednesday calling the loss of their parents “horrifying and devastating.”
“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we experience every moment of the day,” Romy and Jake Reiner said. “The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michelle Reiner, is something no one should ever have to go through. 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,” they added. “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.”
Receive daily national news
Get the day's top news, political, economic and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day.
Nick was charged Tuesday with the murders of his father, 78-year-old director Rob Reiner, and his wife Michelle Singer Reiner, by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. announced at a press conference.
Reiner also faces specific charges of personally using a dangerous and deadly weapon, namely a knife, Hochman said.
These charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. A decision on the death penalty has not yet been made, Hochman added.
“Allegations are not evidence,” Hochman said at a news conference Tuesday. “The evidence is what we will present in court to meet the standard of proof that we meet in every criminal case, which is beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“Investigating these cases involving family members is one of the most difficult and most heartbreaking cases this office encounters due to the intimate and often violent nature of the crimes involved,” Hochman said.
“Rob Reiner was a brilliant actor and director, and an iconic force in our entertainment industry for decades. His wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, was an equally iconic photographer and producer. Their loss is beyond tragic.”
Reiner and his wife were found fatally stabbed Sunday at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. On Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Nick and booked him on suspicion of murdering his parents.
Online jail records show he is being held at Parker Center Jail in downtown Los Angeles without bond.
Nick Rayner was scheduled to appear in court earlier Tuesday, but his lawyer said he was not transported from jail to the courthouse for medical reasons and the appearance was postponed.
Reiner and Singer's family confirmed their deaths in a statement, writing: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the tragic passing of Michelle and Rob Reiner.
“We are heartbroken by this sudden loss and ask for privacy at this incredibly difficult time.”
The acclaimed director and Nick explored their complicated father-son relationship, as well as Nick's battle with drugs, in the 2016 semi-autobiographical film. Be Charlie. Nick has spoken publicly about his struggle with addiction. By age 18, he was reportedly cycling in and out of treatment facilities, with bouts of homelessness and relapses in between.
—with files from Associated Press
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
