Nick Reiner Arrest Shakes Los Angeles as Police Link Double Murder to Son of Rob Reiner

Los Angeles — Nick Reiner, 32, the son of filmmaker Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has been arrested on murder charges in the killings of his parents, whose bodies were found Sunday at their Brentwood home. Police said he was taken into custody roughly six hours after the 911 call that alerted authorities. Investigators described the arrest as the result of persistent, coordinated work by patrol officers and detectives, along with federal partners, as they canvassed surveillance footage and tracked leads across the city.

Reiner’s weekend began with his appearance at Conan O’Brien’s holiday party in Los Angeles on Saturday night, where witnesses noted a tense scene that stood out amid the star-studded guest list. He was described as acting unusually and disruptive at times, with one account indicating he challenged guests about their fame and later had a dispute with his father in front of attendees. Other accounts described him as isolated at the event, prompting concern among friends and neighbors who had observed that his mental state had appeared to deteriorate in recent weeks. The party came just days after his parents reportedly confided to friends that they were frightened by his escalating behavior.

After leaving the party, surveillance footage obtained by investigators showed Nick Reiner strolling near a Sinclair gas station on the forecourt late Saturday night, described by witnesses as looking unsettled. About five hours later, around 4 a.m. Sunday, he checked into The Pierside Santa Monica, a boutique hotel about five miles from his family’s Brentwood estate, and reserved room 207 for a single night. Hotel staff later found the room in disarray: the shower reportedly smeared with blood, bloodstains on the bed, and the window covered by bed sheets. It is unclear where Reiner was in the hours that followed the discovery of his parents’ bodies.

Authorities say there were roughly 16 hours between the hotel check-in and the next confirmed sighting, which occurred near Exposition Park, a neighborhood near the University of Southern California. CCTV footage at an Arco gas station near Exposition Park shows Reiner entering the store from the direction of the Expo/Vermont Metro stop, then briefly queuing before leaving. He was later described by witnesses as a seemingly ordinary man as police canvassed the area. Around 9 p.m. Sunday, authorities tracked him down and arrested him near Exposition Park without incident. He was taken into custody by Los Angeles police and U.S. Marshals and transported to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles, where he has remained in custody.

The investigation has established that the couple were found dead after returning from their scheduled 2 p.m. appointment with their masseuse. The masseuse alerted the couple’s daughter, Romy, who lives across the street, after receiving no response at the door. Romy entered the home and found her parents knife-stabbed to death; she then fled the house in distress and notified authorities. Police have said Romy warned officers that her brother should be considered a suspect, given his past and the family’s concerns about his mental health.

In court records, Reiner was described as being held in a restrictive anti-suicide smock during his first appearance, which lasted about three minutes. He waived his right to enter a plea, and his next court date was scheduled for January 7. Bail had been set at $4 million but was later rescinded as investigators continued to build the case. At this stage, prosecutors have not publicly outlined additional charges beyond the alleged murders, and authorities have cautioned that the investigation remains active as they seek to establish a complete timeline of events.

The case has drawn national attention due to Rob Reiner’s prominence in film and television, as well as the apparent complexity of the timeline in the hours between the hotel stay and the discovery of the bodies. Investigators said the inquiry will continue to focus on tracing Reiner’s movements and any potential connections to the crime scene, including reviewing additional surveillance footage, financial records, and digital data that may illuminate his whereabouts during the critical hours Sunday.

Officials emphasized that while early reports described a tense dynamic at the Christmas party and concerns about the son’s mental health, the investigation remains focused on evidence and documented timelines. Authorities did not indicate whether any additional suspects were being considered, and they reiterated that the case remains active as more witnesses are interviewed and more footage is processed. The community awaits further updates as prosecutors prepare for future court proceedings and as investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to the deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.