Rob Reiner’s son pleads not guilty to murder in the killing of his
parents
[February 24, 2026]
By ANDREW DALTON
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Hollywood
luminary Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, pleaded not guilty Monday
to two counts of first-degree murder more than two months after their
deaths, denying for the first time that he fatally stabbed his parents.
Reiner’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene, entered the
plea on his behalf as he stood behind glass in an enclosed custody area
of the packed Los Angeles courtroom.
The third of Rob Reiner’s four children, Nick Reiner has been held
without bail since his arrest hours after beloved actor-director Reiner
and photographer and producer Singer were found dead on Dec. 14 at their
home in the upscale Brentwood section of Los Angeles.
Reiner appeared in court with a shaved head and light facial hair,
wearing brown jail clothes. He talked to his lawyer briefly through the
glass before the judge began the hearing. At one point a low door in the
enclosure was opened and they crouched down and spoke face-to-face.
During the hearing, he spoke only to answer yes when the judge asked if
he waived his right for next steps of the case to proceed speedily.
Reiner was not wearing the suicide prevention smock he wore in his first
court appearance in December days after his parent's killings. It was
the third time he had been set to enter a plea, but issues surrounding
the high-stakes, closely watched case, including a surprising change in
defense lawyers, kept it from happening until Monday.
The judge told Reiner to return to court April 29 for the scheduling of
a preliminary hearing where prosecutors will present evidence and a new
judge will decide if it’s enough for Reiner to go to trial.
The case will now be handled by longtime Los Angeles Superior Court
Judge Sam Ohta. He has had many prominent murder, manslaughter and
public corruption cases in his courtroom in recent years, but none have
drawn the national media attention this case has.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said outside court that his office
still hasn’t decided whether it will seek the death penalty for Reiner.
Hochman said the death penalty decision “goes through a very rigorous
process. We will be looking at all aggravating and mitigating
circumstances.”
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Nick Reiner pleads not guilty today to two counts of first-degree
murder in the deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer
Reiner, with public defense attorney, Kimberly Green, during his
arraignment on murder charges for the deaths of his parents, Rob and
Michele Reiner, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Chris
Torres/Pool Photo via AP)
Reiner’s not guilty plea is common for criminal defendants at this
stage of the case, whatever their longer-term plan might be.
Reiner’s former attorney, the high-profile private lawyer Alan
Jackson, had to quit the case at the previous hearing, citing
reasons beyond his and his client’s control that ethics wouldn't let
him reveal. But in parting, he adamantly declared that “pursuant to
the laws of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder,” a
stance made official by Reiner's plea Monday.
Authorities have said nothing about possible motives, and leaks in
the case have been virtually nonexistent on both sides, leaving some
of the most basic questions about the killing unanswered publicly.
Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, died from “multiple
sharp force injuries,” the LA County Medical Examiner said in
initial findings. Authorities said they were killed hours before the
bodies were discovered. A court order has prevented the public
release of more details.
Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian said Monday that his office is
still awaiting the full autopsy report from the Medical Examiner,
but all other evidence has been turned over to the defense.
Rob Reiner was a prolific director whose work included some of the
most memorable and endlessly watchable movies of the 1980s and ’90s.
His credits included “This is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “A Few
Good Men,” and “When Harry Met Sally… ,” during the production of
which he met photographer Michele Singer. They wed soon after and
were married for 36 years.
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