Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of film director and actor Rob Reiner, pleaded not guilty on Monday to two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, in their Los Angeles home, in a case that has drawn intense public attention because of the elder Reiner’s long career in film and television.
Reiner appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court wearing brown jail clothing, seated behind a glass partition, and spoke only briefly during the hearing, including when he answered “Yes” to a judge’s question about waiving his right to a speedy preliminary hearing. The court set the preliminary hearing to take place within 30 days of April 29, according to reporting from the proceedings.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters outside the courthouse that the case is eligible for the death penalty under California law, and said prosecutors would review all circumstances before making a final determination on whether to seek capital punishment. Reiner remains jailed without bail, having been held since his arrest in the hours after the killings, according to officials and court reporting.
The Page Six report focused on a brief facial expression captured during the hearing, describing a moment when Reiner appeared to smirk. A body language expert, Susan Constantine, told the outlet she interpreted the expression as what she called “duper’s delight”, which she described as a kind of emotional “leakage” in which a person experiences enjoyment while attempting to conceal it.
“There is a really interesting smirk where his head goes down and then he smiles,” Constantine said, adding that he was “trying to conceal his emotions” by tilting his head downward. She said the expression could indicate “a sense or rush or enjoyment”, adding: “You will see that it’s almost like a sinister smile and it kind of leaks out at the most inappropriate moments.”
Constantine also said: “It was an unconscious smirk of a sense of enjoyment or elation or excitement,” and suggested that once Reiner became aware of the expression he quickly changed his behaviour. She pointed to what she described as physical signs of tension, including movement in his jawline and lines on his forehead. “His forehead shows a lot of worry,” she said. “His eyes show paranoia and fear, high levels of it. An intensity level of it.”
Such analysis is not evidence of guilt, and body-language interpretation is inherently subjective. It nevertheless has become part of the public conversation around a case that investigators and prosecutors have otherwise described in limited detail, with authorities disclosing few specifics about what occurred inside the family home beyond the findings of homicide and the nature of the injuries.
Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found dead on December 14 in their Brentwood residence in west Los Angeles. Autopsies found both died of “multiple sharp force injuries”, and the deaths were ruled homicides, according to reporting that cited the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s findings.
Nick Reiner was arrested later that day and has since faced charges that include special circumstances related to multiple murders, which can expose a defendant to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty, if prosecutors choose to pursue it and if a jury convicts. Prosecutors have not publicly laid out a motive, and authorities have said little about what may have precipitated the killings.
In court, Reiner was represented by a public defender, Kimberly Greene. His case has already seen changes in representation, with his former lawyer, Alan Jackson, withdrawing earlier in the proceedings. Reuters reported that Jackson’s sudden exit contributed to delays and led to the assignment of a public defender on short notice, before Monday’s arraignment.
The case has also raised questions about Reiner’s history and personal circumstances. Reuters described him as having acknowledged a years-long struggle with substance abuse, and noted previous reporting about a mental health conservatorship that permitted involuntary treatment, which ended in 2021. Other reporting has said he had been in and out of rehabilitation and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia before his parents’ deaths.
Rob Reiner was widely known for his work both in front of and behind the camera. He rose to fame as a cast member on the 1970s television sitcom “All in the Family” before building a career as a director with films including “This Is Spinal Tap”, “Stand by Me”, “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally”. He later became a prominent Democratic Party activist and donor, according to Reuters.
Reuters also reported that Rob and Michele Reiner had planned to attend an evening gathering with former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama on the day of the killings, a detail that underscored how closely connected the couple were to Hollywood and political circles.
Investigators have not released a detailed timeline of the hours leading up to the deaths, but there have been reports of tensions in the days prior. Reuters said Nick Reiner was widely reported to have quarrelled with his parents at a holiday party hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien the night before the couple were slain. Page Six also referenced that reported argument, while adding that a friend of Rob Reiner had said Nick and his parents had been getting along well weeks earlier.
Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy, have remained largely out of public view during court proceedings. Reuters reported they have not attended their brother’s hearings, and cited a statement issued after Reiner’s initial court appearance in December describing their grief.
In a statement shared with People, the siblings said: “Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” and added: “They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.” A family spokesperson, according to ABC News, said the family had “the utmost trust in the legal process” and would not comment further on legal proceedings.
As the case moves toward a preliminary hearing, prosecutors will be expected to present evidence intended to establish probable cause to proceed to trial. Reiner’s not guilty plea means the allegations will be contested, and key decisions remain ahead, including whether the district attorney will seek life without parole or pursue the death penalty, and how the court will handle any mental-health-related issues raised by the defence.
