Nick Reiner Pleads Not Guilty in the Killing of His Parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 29, when a judge will decide whether or not the case will go to trial.

Nick Reiner appears during his arraignment in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Los Angeles on Feb. 23, 2026. Chris Torres/Pool via Reuters

Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty on Feb. 23 to two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his parents, prolific actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

Deputy public defender and Nick Reiner’s attorney, Kimberly Greene, entered the plea on his behalf in a Los Angeles courtroom.

The 32-year-old was also present during arraignment, briefly making remarks to his lawyer and answering only yes-or-no questions from the judge.

Nick Reiner has been held in custody without bail since his Dec. 15, 2025, arrest, when he was booked on suspicion of murdering his parents.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 29, when a judge will decide, based on prosecutorial evidence, whether or not the case will go to trial.

According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, it is unclear whether the DA’s office will pursue the death penalty.

On Dec. 14, 2025, authorities responded to a medical emergency call at a home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, where responders found the bodies of a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman, later identified as the Reiners.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed the official cause of death as “multiple sharp force injuries.”

Later that day, family members issued a statement to announce “the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner.”

“We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time,” they said.

On Dec. 16, Nick Reiner was charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances. He had his first court appearance in December, represented by attorney Alan Jackson.

Jackson removed himself from the case in January because of what he called circumstances beyond his and his client’s control.

The Reiners’ Legacy

With a career that spanned more than five decades, Rob Reiner made his mark on the film and television industry, defining multiple genres and acclaimed classics.

He rose to fame in the 1970s for his role as Meathead in the CBS sitcom “All in the Family,” before making his directorial debut with “This Is Spinal Tap” in 1984.

Throughout the ’80s and into the early ’90s, he cemented his legacy as a versatile director, bringing box office favorites such as “The Sure Thing,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Misery,” “A Few Good Men,” and others.

He had 36 total award nominations and 24 wins, including Emmy awards for Best Supporting Actor in Comedy and Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for “All in the Family.”

Michele Singer Reiner, also versatile in the business, was best known for her work as a photographer, film producer, and activist.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.