Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents, renowned director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner. The plea was entered by his new attorney, Kimberly Greene, during a court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday. Nick, 32, remains in custody without bail following his arrest shortly after the bodies of his parents were discovered at their Brentwood home on December 14.
During the brief hearing, Nick Reiner appeared in jail attire, having previously been seen in a suicide prevention smock. He answered affirmatively to the judge's questions but did not elaborate further. The case has seen limited progress in previous hearings, which included the resignation of his former attorney, Alan Jackson, who cited legal ethical concerns without providing specifics. Jackson had previously emphasized Reiner’s legal presumption of innocence.
The prosecution, led by District Attorney Nathan Hochman, has not publicly announced whether it will pursue the death penalty. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 29, during which the prosecution will present evidence to determine if the case should go to trial. Meanwhile, the autopsy report is pending, but initial findings indicated that both Rob and Michele Reiner died from "multiple sharp force injuries."
Rob Reiner, who passed away at the age of 78, was celebrated for directing iconic films such as "This is Spinal Tap" and "When Harry Met Sally…," while Michele Reiner was 70 at the time of her death. Their tragic deaths have drawn significant media attention, but details surrounding potential motives remain undisclosed.