Nick Reiner entered a not guilty plea to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner during his arraignment in Los Angeles on Monday. Public defender Kimberly Greene represented Reiner, who stood in a custody area wearing jail clothes as the proceedings took place.
The 32-year-old has been held without bail since his arrest in December following the discovery of his parents' bodies in their Los Angeles home on December 14. Rob Reiner, 78, was an acclaimed director and actor, while Michele, 70, was a photographer. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined both died from multiple sharp force injuries.
Reiner's case involves first-degree murder charges with special circumstances for multiple murders and an allegation of using a dangerous weapon. The district attorney's office is still awaiting a complete autopsy report. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman indicated that the case is eligible for the death penalty but that his office has not yet decided whether to pursue capital charges.
"We will be looking at all aggravating and mitigating circumstances," Hochman told reporters after the arraignment.
The change in legal representation marks the second attorney shift in the case. Reiner's former attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case last month without explaining his reasons, though he stated at the time that his client was not guilty. A judge had postponed proceedings following Jackson's withdrawal before Greene took over the case.
The killings sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry given the prominence of Rob and Michele Reiner, who were also known for their political activism. The case has received extensive media coverage, with reports detailing Reiner's personal struggles including a history of addiction and mental illness. He had been placed under a conservatorship for a year in 2020 due to mental health issues and was reportedly prescribed medication for schizophrenia prior to the killings.
According to media reports, Reiner's behavior had become increasingly erratic in the period leading up to the deaths. The night before their bodies were discovered, the couple attended a Christmas party at comedian Conan O'Brien's home where Rob and Nick Reiner were heard arguing. O'Brien later described the victims as "lovely people" and expressed his shock at losing friends he and his wife had grown close to.
Jackson had previously urged the public not to rush to judgment in the case, saying that circumstances beyond his control made continuing representation impossible.
Reiner is scheduled to next appear in court on April 29.