The stunning occasions surrounding the murders of beloved director Rob Reiner and his spouse, Michele Singer Reiner, had been explored on the newest episode of TMZ Investigates.
Airing on Fox Friday, January 9, Harvey Levin and his staff seemed into new theories and lingering mysteries in regards to the stabbing deaths of the Reiners, which had been allegedly perpetrated by their very own son Nick Reiner in December 2025.
The TMZ team shared new particulars in regards to the case and Nick’s psychological well being from their sources, in addition to chatting with Rob’s longtime buddy Invoice Maher and The Bling Ring’s Alex Haines, who shared her perception after experiencing heroin dependancy at 19 and changing into a convicted felon.
Nick was not concerned within the documentary and has not publicly acknowledged a psychological well being analysis. Nonetheless, he has spoken about his struggles extra broadly up to now, together with on an August 2018 episode of the “Dopey” podcast, the place he detailed trashing his mother and father’ visitor home within the midst of his dependancy.
“It’s not a lot of a narrative,” Nick shared on the time.“I bought completely spun out on uppers — I believe it was coke and one thing else — and I used to be up for days on finish. I began punching out various things in my visitor home.”
When requested if there was any thought course of to destroying the visitor home, Nick responded, “You’re loopy. No logic.”
As of publication, Nick stays in custody on two expenses of first diploma homicide for the deadly stabbing of his mother and father at their Brentwood, California, residence on December 14, 2025, simply mere hours after they’d all attended Conan O’Brien’s Christmas occasion.
Maintain scrolling for a breakdown of TMZ Investigates: The Reiner Murders: What Actually Occurred.
Rob and Michelle’s Homicide Weapon Hasn’t Been Discovered But
The documentary reported that the homicide weapon used to kill Rob and Michelle has not but been discovered by authorities, which may influence the case in opposition to Nick. (Nick has been charged with two counts of first-degree homicide.)
“Our sources say a vital piece of proof on this case has not been discovered. The homicide weapon,” TMZ’s Harvey Levin claimed within the documentary. “It’s actually essential for the D.A., as a result of if Nick had gone out and bought a knife shortly earlier than the murders, it might present premeditation. If he took a knife out of the kitchen, for instance, which may present extra spontaneity. However that knife is actually essential. We all know the police have been searching for it. However we’re instructed to this point they haven’t discovered it.”
Nick Was Allegedly Recognized With Schizoaffective Dysfunction in 2020
Based on TMZ’s sources, Nick was identified with schizoaffective dysfunction and “earlier than everybody knew Nick was affected by schizoaffective dysfunction, he was utilizing meth and that makes schizoaffective dysfunction even worse. And he had a violent outburst,” Levin claimed within the documentary.
The TMZ staff alleged that the outburst concerned “tearing up” his mother and father’ home.
Schizoaffective dysfunction is a mixture of schizophrenia and temper dysfunction signs, that features a “rollercoaster of feelings” like mania, hallucinations or delusions.
“So our sources have instructed us within the five-plus years since Nick was identified… he has not been utilizing unlawful medicine,” together with meth, heroin and cocaine, TMZ supervising producer Olivia Heinle mentioned. “However the medicine that landed him in rehab had been prescription tablets.”
The TMZ staff additionally spoke about how Nick’s psychological sickness associated to the homicide expenses.
Levin mentioned of how the case was shaping up when Nick was arrested, “The plan was [for him] to plead not responsible by purpose of madness and all of it facilities round Nick’s profound psychological sickness.”
Referring to sources near the household, TMZ’s govt producer Charles Latibeaudiere added, “He is aware of he killed his mother and father however he doesn’t perceive why he’s in jail. He’s delusional. He thinks that is all a conspiracy in opposition to him.”
Based on Latibeaudiere, Rob and Michele had been awake when the assault occurred, per TMZ’s supply.
Nick’s Expertise in His Rehab Stints
Within the documentary, TMZ detailed Nick’s alleged expertise in rehab (which he beforehand admitted to getting into 18 instances). The documentary claimed that Nick would do 30-day stints to “get you clear they usually allow you to out” however the stays weren’t lengthy sufficient to deal with underlying psychological well being points.
“His first rehab stint was when his mother and father discovered him doing each Percocet and Xanax with a buddy,” Heinle mentioned.
Dr. Drew Pinsky, an dependancy specialist who will not be Nick’s physician, instructed the outlet, “Thirty days for me appears nearly meaningless for somebody with Nick‘s historical past. What you’d wish to do is put him someplace structured and custodial for a really lengthy time frame, perhaps completely. And fogeys have an actual tough time coming to phrases with that.”
Latibeaudiere claimed that whereas in rehab, Nick encountered different addicts that solely resulted in him studying different drug securing strategies.
“When he was there for the primary rehab stint, he met one other addict who was telling him how a lot simpler it’s to attain heroin than prescribed drugs,” Latibeaudiere reported.
Micholas Mathews, Stillwater Behavioral Well being CEO, defined within the documentary how medicine can influence somebody’s psychological sickness.
“The scariest factor about it’s once you’re altering your mind chemistry with illicit substances, i.e. you’re abusing methamphetamine, you’re abusing opiates… it could exacerbate your signs and make them exponentially worse,” mentioned Mathews.
Docs Allegedly Modified Nick Reiner’s Medicine After He Gained Weight
Levin claimed within the documentary that sources instructed the outlet that though Nick’s earlier treatment seemed to be working, docs modified what they had been prescribing a month earlier than the murders.
“He was doing superb on the meds he had been taking. They had been working. Docs modified the meds, and it messed Nick up. It messed him up profoundly,” Levin mentioned.
“We’re instructed this new cocktail of meds despatched Nick off the rails. We’re instructed he bought more and more erratic and harmful,” Latibeaudiere alleged.
“There have been temper adjustments starting from excessive despair to manic habits.”
Latibeaudiere reported: “We’re instructed Rob and Michele Reiner had been effectively conscious that they modified Nick’s meds. They had been alarmed at what they had been seeing. There have been adjustments in his habits. They only didn’t know what to do.”
Levin additionally shared the alleged purpose docs modified the treatment Nick was taking.
He claimed, “We have now been looking for out why docs modified Nick’s meds a month earlier than the murders. Nobody would inform us. All they might say is, you’re going to be shocked once you discover out. However we’re not going to say. We have now simply came upon. A supply with direct data of this case tells us the rationale docs modified Nick’s meds was weight achieve. He was sad together with his weight.”
Latibeaudiere famous that weight achieve is a typical aspect impact of some anti-psychotic medicine.
Levin claimed, “Docs accommodate Nick by altering his meds, which then leads to a cascade of psychological issues that finish with the murders of Rob and Michele Reiner.
Rob Reiner poses with household in April 2014. Michael Loccisano/Getty Photographs
The Bling Ring’s Alexis Haines Claims the Psychological Well being System ‘Failed’ the Reiners
Drawing on her expertise with being a 19-year-old heroin addict and convicted felon, former actuality star Alexis Haines (née Neiers), now 34, claimed the psychological well being system “failed” the Reiner household.
“People who find themselves in energetic psychosis don’t belong in a residential remedy middle at first. They belong in a hospital. With no shadow of a doubt, the psychological well being system in America has failed the Reiner household,” she mentioned. “There’s no query that Nick ought to have been hospitalized throughout this time period. He ought to have been contained and in a protected setting the place he couldn’t depart till his medicines had been adjusted till there was a noticeable distinction in his have an effect on and habits.”
Levin echoed the sentiment that the psychological well being system within the nation got here up brief, claiming, “Medical professionals betrayed the Reiners in a deadly method.”
Rob’s Pal Invoice Maher Slams Donald Trump’s Response to Murders
Invoice Maher, who was a longtime buddy of Rob Reiner, mentioned there’s nothing to justify President Donald Trump criticizing the director so quickly after his grisly homicide.
“In fact not,” Maher, 69, responded when requested if there was something he may say to excuse Trump’s feedback. “However I can say that about 1,000 issues Donald Trump has accomplished. It was type of good to see Republicans, not all of them, however fairly just a few standing up and saying, ‘Let’s not try this. Actually? You must try this?’”
“I misplaced a buddy and simply apart from that an important filmmaker,” he mentioned. “Rob positively gave ‘nepo child’ a great title. I cherished his father. The Dick Van Dyke Present was the best sitcom ever. Rob was an A-list director on a stage Carl Reiner by no means bought to. Carl Reiner by no means had a string of flicks like When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Males, Princess Bride. He had a run that was A-list and diverse.”
What Do We Know Concerning the Murders of Rob and Michele Reiner?
Rob and Michele Reiner had been discovered useless of their Brentwood, California, residence on December 14, 2025.
The New York Instances reported that Rob and Michele’s daughter, Romy, found her father’s physique. She was reportedly referred to as to her mother and father’ residence once they didn’t reply a therapeutic massage therapist who’d arrived for a scheduled appointment. Romy’s roommate reportedly referred to as 911 someday later.
Per The Instances, Romy didn’t truly see her mom Michele’s physique when she entered the house and realized of her demise from paramedics on the scene later within the day.
In the meantime, her brother Nick Reiner was apprehended close to Exposition Park in Los Angeles on December 14. Video footage from a number of media shops confirmed Nick surrendering and being taken into custody after being swarmed by police automobiles on the road.
Within the hours after information broke, Us Weekly solely reported that Nick attended Conan O’Brien’s Christmas occasion together with his mother and father on December 13, 2025. Us realized that occasion company witnessed Nick appearing “creepily” all through the night.
“Nick was going as much as individuals at Conan O’Brien’s occasion asking in the event that they had been well-known,” a supply instructed Us on the time.
Per TMZ, Nick reportedly had a “very loud argument” together with his father Rob that was overheard by different company. Rob and Michele left quickly after the alleged confrontation.
As soon as his mother and father had been gone, Nick approached a number of company and interrupted their conversations, in response to The Wall Avenue Journal. He allegedly requested the identical three questions: “What’s your title? What’s your final title? Are you well-known?”
Invoice Hader was one of many occasion company whom Nick approached, NBC Information reported. When Hader mentioned he was having a personal dialog, Nick allegedly stood nonetheless and stared at Hader for a short while earlier than “storming off.”
Us reached out to representatives for O’Brien and Hader for remark.
What Has Nick Reiner Been Charged With?
Nick Reiner was charged with two counts of first-degree homicide on December 16, 2025, and denied bail. If convicted, Nick may face life in jail with out parole or a doable demise sentence. (There’s presently a moratorium on capital punishment in California however demise sentences can nonetheless be handed down.)
Nick was initially held on suicide watch at Los Angeles’ Twin Towers Correctional Facility within the days following his arrest. He first appeared in court docket sporting a suicide prevention vest on December 17, 2025. (These clothes are used to stop hospitalized or incarcerated individuals from taking their very own lives if they’re discovered to be a hazard to themselves.)
A number of media shops confirmed in January 2025 that Nick had been faraway from suicide watch on the L.A. jail.
Nick Reiner’s former lawyer, Alan Jackson, dodged questions in regards to the homicide suspect’s funds whereas getting into the courthouse for what was purported to be his arraignment. “Alan, who’s paying for Nick’s protection?” one reporter may very well be heard asking Jackson as he bought out of his automobile on the Los Angeles Superior Courtroom and walked towards the […]
At his arraignment on January 7, 2026, Nick’s lawyer Alan Jackson revealed that the protection already issued “10 present subpoenas” for potential witnesses within the double homicide trial.
Jackson stunned courtroom observers at that very same arraignment by resigning from the case, citing disagreements with Nick. Los Angeles County public defender Kimberly Greene formally took over as Nick’s authorized consultant and efficiently lobbied Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom Choose Theresa McGonigle to proceed the arraignment till February 23, 2026.
What Is Nick Reiner’s Plea?
Nick has but to formally enter a plea. He could accomplish that on the subsequent scheduled court docket listening to on February 23, 2026.
What Have Nick Reiner’s Siblings Stated Concerning the Murders of Rob and Michele Reiner?
Nick Reiner’s siblings, Romy and Jake Reiner, broke their silence over the stunning murders of their mother and father Rob and Michele Reiner on December 17.
“Phrases can not even start to explain the unimaginable ache we’re experiencing each second of the day. The horrific and devastating lack of our mother and father, Rob and Michele Reiner, is one thing that nobody ought to ever expertise,” they instructed TMZ on the time. “They weren’t simply our mother and father; they had been our greatest pals.”
They went on, “We’re grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and help we’ve acquired not solely from household and pals however individuals from all walks of life.”
Following the information in January 2026 that Nick’s lawyer Alan Jackson resigned from his case, the Reiner household mentioned in an announcement that they’d “the utmost belief within the authorized course of.”
“[We] is not going to remark additional on issues associated to the authorized proceedings,” the Reiners instructed The New York Instances on January 7.
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