What to KnowNick Reiner pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in the killings of his parents, director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Reiner. A judge entered the plea on Reiner’s behalf when he appeared in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. Reiner was charged on Dec. 16 with first- degree murder. The charges include a special circumstances allegation of multiple murders and an additional allegation that a knife was used in the killings.Reiner was scheduled to return to court April 29, when a date will be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial. Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom in connection with the killings of his parents, Hollywood director Rob Reiner and wife Michele Reiner, two months ago in the family’s Brentwood home. The 32-year-old was arrested on Dec. 15 on suspicion of murder in the killings of Rob Reiner, 78, and photographer Michele Reiner, 68, whose bodies were found inside of their home. news Dec 15, 2025 Nick Reiner was disruptive at party day before his parents were found dead, sources say Celebrity News Dec 14, 2025 Hollywood mourns director Rob Reiner and wife, found dead in LA home Reiner was charged on Dec. 16 with first-degree murder. District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges at a news conference, a day after Nick Reiner was arrested in connection with the tragic discovery of his parents’ bodies.  The charges include a special circumstances allegation of multiple murders and an additional allegation that Reiner used a knife in the killings, which took place sometime early Sunday morning on Dec. 14, authorities said. Special circumstances elevate a murder charge to a more severe level. The charges carry the potential for a possible death sentence, if prosecutors pursue capital punishment. On Monday, a judge entered a not guilty plea on Reiner’s behalf. Reiner, who appeared in court, agreed to the plea and spoke once during the brief hearing, acknowledging he understood the judge with a “yes.” Reiner remains jailed without bail. He was scheduled to return to court April 29, when a date will be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial. Reiner is being represented by a public defender. Attorney Alan Jackson was initially representing Reiner, but later announced his withdrawal from the case during Reiner’s Jan. 7 court date. Outside the court building on Monday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the case is eligible for the death penalty. “We will be looking at all aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and we have invited defense counsel to present to us, both in writing and orally in a meeting, any arguments they would like to make in consideration in our going forward, or not going forward, with the death penalty,” Hochman said. Reiner’s mental state is a critical factor in the case. NBC Los Angeles has learned that there is a sealed medical order filed. Details about a possible motive for the killings of the world renowned director and his wife were not immediately available. A source close to Reiner confirmed to NBC News that Reiner and his wife had apparent stab wounds. The medical examiner has not provided details about an official cause of death. Nick Reiner was the second of the couple’s three children.  The deaths of Rob Reiner, a celebrated director whose long list of successful films included “When Harry Met Sally…,” “A Few Good Men” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” and Michele Reiner, a talent photographer and producer, stunned the Hollywood community and led to an outpouring of tributes from entertainment industry colleagues, political figures and more. The family’s challenges with Nick, including battles with drug addiction, were well-documented. In 2015, Rob and Nick Reiner worked on a coming-of-age film together called “Being Charlie.” Directed by Rob Reiner and co-written by Nick Reiner, the film explored the relationship between a son and father. In a 2016 interview with The Associated Press, they talked about the film. “It forced us to understand ourselves better than we had,” Rob Reiner told the AP. “I told Nick while we were making it, I said, ‘You know it doesn’t matter, whatever happens to this thing, we won already. This has already been good.’ We’ve worked through a lot of stuff.” In September, the family appeared together at the Los Angeles premiere of “Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues.” Nick Reiner has spoken publicly over the years about his struggles with drug addiction, which began in his teens. He told People in an interview in 2016 that he cycled in and out of treatment facilities with bouts of homelessness and relapses in between. “I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun,” Nick Reiner told People, adding that, “If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless.” ...read more read less