Nick Reiner made his first court appearance on Wednesday after he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents, Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. He did not enter a plea, and the arraignment was continued until Jan. 7.
His defense lawyer, Alan Jackson, told reporters that there were “very complex and serious issues” associated with the case, and urged the public not to “rush to judgment.”
The Reiners were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday afternoon. Paramedics responded to a call for medical aid at the residence in the Brentwood neighborhood around 3:30 p.m. PT. Inside, they found Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 68, dead.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said the preliminary cause of death was “multiple sharp force injuries.”
Nick Reiner was arrested on Sunday night and is being held without bail.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty with no possibility of parole. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said no decision has been made on whether to seek the death penalty.
Authorities declined to discuss the evidence that led them to charge Nick Reiner with murdering his parents or a possible motive.
Rob Reiner was the director of several classic Hollywood movies, including This Is Spinal Tap, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, Stand by Me and Misery.
As an actor, Reiner was best known for playing Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the iconic sitcom All in the Family, alongside Archie Bunker.
Singer Reiner was a photographer and producer. The couple met on the set of When Harry Met Sally and married in 1989. They shared three children together: Jake, Nick and Romy. Rob Reiner also had an adopted daughter, Tracy, from his previous marriage to Penny Marshall.
Nick Reiner has spoken publicly about his struggles with mental illness and addiction. In 2015, Nick and Rob Reiner collaborated on a semi-autobiographical movie, Being Charlie, about Nick’s troubled life and the strain it put on their relationship.
Our live coverage has ended for the day.
Live60 updates
