A Los Angeles County grand jury has formally indicted Nick Reiner on murder charges in the stabbing deaths of his parents, director Rob Reiner and photographer-producer Michele Singer Reiner.
The indictment, returned July 20 and unsealed Wednesday, charges Reiner, 32, with two counts of murder and adds a new special circumstance allegation that he committed the murders by lying in wait, in addition to an existing allegation of multiple murders and use of a deadly weapon, specifically a knife.
Reiner pleaded not guilty at Wednesday’s arraignment.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman addressed the new allegation in a statement.
“This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing. The indictment unsealed today also adds a special circumstance allegation that the defendant committed the murders by means of lying in wait. We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice.”
The grand jury indictment allows prosecutors to bypass California’s preliminary hearing process, moving the case more directly toward trial, Reiner is next scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing on September 15.
Rob and Michele Reiner, married more than 35 years, were found stabbed to death at their Brentwood home on December 14, 2025.
Nick Reiner was arrested the following day near the USC campus and initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder shortly after. Rob Reiner, celebrated for directing films including When Harry Met Sally…, A Few Good Men and This Is Spinal Tap, had a long and publicly documented history supporting his son through struggles with drug addiction, including collaborating with him on the semi-autobiographical 2016 film Being Charlie.
Reiner’s attorney has declined to comment on the new indictment.
Prosecutors have not disclosed a possible motive, and it remains unclear whether the district attorney’s office will pursue the death penalty.
