In a major new development, Nick Reiner has been indicted for murdering his parents.
On Wednesday, August 12, Rolling Stone reported that a Los Angeles grand jury had officially charged the 32-year-old screenwriter with first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents, Michelle Singer Reiner and Rob Reiner.
According to the LA county district attorney’s office, the jury, which comprises of a group of citizens, looked at the evidence and mutually decided that there is enough proof to conduct a trial.
In addition to two counts of first-degree murder, a chilling new allegation has also been levelled against Nick, with the indictment citing “lying in wait” as a special circumstance.
For those unfamiliar, lying in wait refers to hiding or waiting for someone with the intention of attacking or killing them.
The newly-added charge makes Nick Reiner’s crime even more heinous as the district attorneys believe he deliberately waited for his parents and attacked them when they were unaware.
If convicted, the allegation could lead to a harsher punishment, including the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.
Nick Reiner pleads not guilty
In his response to the indictment, Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with special circumstances.
“This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement, as per The Washington Post.
He added, "We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice.”
When is Nick Reiner due for a pretrial hearing?
Nick Reiner is set to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on September 15, 2026.
Michelle and Rob Reiner’s death
On December 14, acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, were discovered dead in their Brentwood mansion in Los Angeles.
Following the deaths, the couple’s second child, Nick Reiner, was taken into custody on charges of murdering his parents.
