Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner’s bodies released to family five days after murders as investigation continues

Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner were found fatally stabbed at their Brentwood estate on Sunday, and their bodies were released to grieving family members five days later to begin burial arrangements. The couple, who married in 1989,Leave behind three children who survived them: Nick, Romy, and Jake, as well as Rob Reiner’s older daughter Tracy whom he adopted with his first wife. Nick Reiner, their 32-year-old son who lived in the guesthouse on the property, was arrested the night of the discovery and has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Nick Reiner appeared in court Wednesday shirtless under an anti-suicide vest, did not enter a plea, and waived his right to a speedy arraignment. The arraignment was rescheduled for January 7 to give his top-flight defense team more time to prepare. Under California law, a slayer statute could bar Nick from inheriting his parents’ rumored $200 million estate if convicted, though an insanity defense could create an exception.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has issued its autopsy findings, confirming that Rob and Michele Reiner died from multiple sharp-force injuries. Authorities had indicated this was the cause of death earlier in the investigation, and the autopsy report formalizes those statements as the case moves through the courts. Investigators are expected to finalize the full coroner’s report within the next 90 days, a timeline that will likely influence both the family’s private process and the case’s ongoing proceedings.

A private memorial for the couple was reportedly held Monday at the home of Albert Brooks, with guests that included Conan O’Brien, Billy Crystal, Bill Hader and Larry David. The todos of the service reflected the couple’s long career in entertainment and their friendships within the industry. Nick’s defense has stated that there are “very, very complex and serious issues” involved in the case, and his attorney said the system should move forward without a rush to judgment.

Investigators and court filings continue to outline Nick Reiner’s history as described by sources close to the family. Reports have highlighted a long struggle with substance abuse beginning in adolescence, including multiple rehab stints and periods of homelessness, and some outlets have cited a diagnosed mental-health condition. In recent weeks, contemporaneous accounts described Nick as increasingly erratic, with family members seeking stabilizing treatment after doctors reportedly adjusted his medications. Some commentators connected these personal challenges to the broader public interest in the family’s story, which has attracted attention in entertainment media given Rob Reiner’s prominence as a filmmaker.

The Reiners’ children include Romy, 27, who lived nearby, and Jake, 34. Rob Reiner also has an older daughter named Tracy, 61, whom he adopted with his first wife. The couple’s friends and colleagues have expressed shock and grief as the murder investigation unfolds, and public attention remains high as the case continues toward trial. The ongoing process will be shaped in part by the timing of the next court appearance and the release of the full coroner’s report, with the entertainment world watching closely due to the Reiners’ long-standing cultural influence.