Prosecutors bring murder charges against Rob Reiner’s son Nick after parents' deaths

Several of Rob and Michele Reiner's closest friends, including Billy Crystal and Albert Brooks, have shared their first official statement following their deaths on Dec. 14.

“Going to the movies in a dark theater filled with strangers having a common experience, laughing, crying, screaming in fear, or watching an intense drama unfold is still an unforgettable thrill. Tell us a story audiences demand of us. Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master story teller. There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary he was always at the top of his game. He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films," the statement, shared with the Associated Press, began.

It continued, “His comedic touch was beyond compare, his love of getting the music of the dialogue just right, and his sharpening of the edge of a drama was simply elegant. For the actors, he loved them. For the writers he made them better. His greatest gift was freedom. If you had an idea, he listened, he brought you into the process. They always felt they were working as a team. To be in his hands as a film maker was a privilege but that is only part of his legacy."

“Rob was also a passionate, brave citizen, who not only cared for this country he loved, he did everything he could to make it better and with his loving wife Michele, he had the perfect partner. Strong and determined, Michele and Rob Reiner devoted a great deal of their lives for the betterment of our fellow citizens... They were a special force together-dynamic, unselfish and inspiring. We were their friends, and we will miss them forever," the couple's friends continued.

The statement concluded with, “There is a line from one of Rob’s favorite films, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ ‘Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?’ You have no idea.”

The official statement, shared with AP, was signed by Billy and Janice Crystal, Albert and Kimberly Brooks, Martin Short, Alan and Robin Zweibel, Larry David and Ashley Underwood, Marc Shaiman and Lou Mirabal, Barry and Diana Levinson and Ambassador James Costos and Michael Smith.

Paul McCartney shared a touching tribute for Rob Reiner following his death.

On Monday, the music legend took to Instagram and shared a photo of Rob and himself, deep in conversation with music instruments behind them.

"What a tragedy the death of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, is," McCartney began.

"It is so shocking in many ways but for me especially so, because over the last year I had been working with him. He directed me in 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues'. He was such an upbeat, lovable man."

The loved member of the Beatles said that "life can be so unfair and this tragedy proves it."

McCartney mentioned Rob's father Carl and how the director became a "great humorist" like his dad.

"Thanks for all the humor, Rob. Rest in Peace. Love Paul," he concluded.

Barbra Streisand is honoring Rob Reiner, the man she "came up in the industry" with.

On Monday, Streisand took to Instagram and shared an emotional message about the late director.

Streisand called Reiner a "wonderful actor" and a "very gifted director." The actress also noted that Rob was a "passionate activist and human being."

She said he will be "sorely missed." Streisand said their deaths, the Brown shooting and the Bondi Beach massacre "saddened her immeasurably."

Bette Midler was another star that took to Instagram on Monday to honor the late Rob and Michele Reiner.

In her tribute post, Midler called Rob as someone who "made life on this planet a little less bleak and a lot more bearable."

Midler called the late director an "excellent judge of character."

She called Rob and his wife Michele "great and good Americans, always rising to the occasion to help anyone who wasn’t getting a fair shake."

Midler noted that Rob's parents Carl and Estelle Reiner fought hard for civil rights. Rob "was steeped in the ideas of fairness, liberty, and justice for all," she wrote.

The actress concluded with, "He made us laugh, he made us cry, and by entertaining us, he made life on this planet a little less bleak and a lot more bearable. You never miss your beloved lions until they’re gone."

Bette starred in Carl's 1997 movie, "That Old Feeling." It was Carl's final film he directed before his death in 2020.

Michael Douglas, who appeared in a few of Rob Reiner's movies, took to Instagram on Monday to honor the late director.

"A most tragic situation for two extraordinary people who gave so much to make a better world. Rob and Michele Reiner will be deeply missed," Douglas captioned his post, which included a photo of himself and Reiner on set of "The American President."

Douglas also appeared in Reiner's "And So It Goes."

Douglas' wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, took to Instagram on Monday to address the tragic events going on in the world, include the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner, the massacre on Bondi Beach and the Brown University shooting.

"Why do our friends need to be killed in their homes. Hate, violence and abusive rhetoric has permeated to levels of unimaginable toxicity. Across the board. Everywhere," she captioned a picture of a lit candle.

Zeta-Jones concluded with, "There is room for us all here on a heavenly earth. Hell is filling up pretty quick."

Fred Savage, an actor that appeared in Rob Reiner's "The Princess Bride," took to Instagram on Monday to honor the late star.

"He found me in a casting room in downtown Chicago and gave me the opportunity to be a part of something that has become so much bigger than anyone could have ever imagined," Savage's caption began.

Savage continued, "Who knew those two weeks in a bedroom set on the Shepperton Studio lot would last forever? His work was a gift to us all and I feel lucky to have been a part of it."

Savage's post included a picture of him and Reiner while on set of the classic movie. Savage starred as the grandson in "The Princess Bride."

Zooey Deschanel is continuing to mourn her on-screen dad, Rob Reiner, after his death on Dec. 14.

Deschanel shared a video singing with Reiner while on set of the hit sitcom "New Girl." Deschanel starred as Jessica Day and Reiner appeared in a few episodes as her father, Bob Day.

"Remembering the great Rob Reiner today," she captioned her post.

"The Princess Bride" star Cary Elwes was one of hundreds who commented on Deschanel's post.

"Thank you Zooey… needed this," Elwes wrote, adding a crying face emoji.

Deschanel initially honored Reiner with a post on Monday, saying she was heartbroken to learn of his death.

"My heart is broken. Rob Reiner was the absolute warmest, funniest, most generous of spirits. A truly good human being. An incredible artist and such a playful and fun collaborator. I cherish the time we spent working together and the many films he made that have shaped who I am," she began.

Deschanel concluded, "Rob and his lovely wife Michele were always so kind and it brought me so much joy any time I was lucky enough to see them. I’m absolutely devastated. Sending so much love to their family and friends."

According to a press release obtained by Fox News Digital, Nick Reiner is accused of fatally stabbing his mother and father, Michele and Rob Reiner, during the early morning hours of Dec. 14 at their Brentwood home.

The press release stated that Nick initially fled the scene and was later arrested that evening at Exposition Park.

"If convicted as charged, Reiner faces death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date," the press release stated.

Nick Reiner has officially been charged for the murder of his mother and father, Rob and Michele Reiner.

According to a press release shared with Fox News Digital, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman says "we owe it to their memory to pursue justice and accountability for the lives that were taken."

“Prosecuting cases involving family violence are some of the most challenging and heart-wrenching we face because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes. Rob Reiner was one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation. His murder and his wife of more than 35 years, Michele Singer Reiner’s murder, are shocking and tragic. We owe it to their memory to pursue justice and accountability for the lives that were taken," District Attorney Hochman's statement read.

Nick Reiner was reportedly staying at the Pierside hotel in Santa Monica on Dec. 14, the same day his parents were found dead.

Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead inside their Brentwood home on Sunday around 3:30 p.m. The couple's son had been living at the family home on-and-off for some time.

Nick checked into the hotel late Sunday night for an overnight stay, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A hotel staff member told the outlet the police had been investigating the scene since Sunday and were still there as of Tuesday afternoon.

Nick was arrested on Dec. 14 at 9:15 p.m. near the University of Southern California campus.

Nick Reiner's background will be thoroughly investigated, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said during Tuesday's press conference.

After confirming Nick would be charged in the murders of his father, Rob Reiner, and mother, Michele Singer Reiner, Hochman noted that prosecutors would review the case for any evidence of mental illness in his background. 

"We anticipate again after the arraignment, that the process will go through the normal process," Hochman said.

"A case like this goes through at the appropriate time. If there is evidence of mental illness, it will be presented in court, and in whatever detail the defense seeks to do that."

Nick was booked on suspicion of murder and transferred Monday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Nick was "not medically cleared" to appear in court Tuesday, his lawyer Alan Jackson told Fox News Digital.

LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton confirmed details of Rob Reiner's son's arrest during Tuesday's press conference.

"He was arrested in a public area in the Exposition Park area near the University of Southern California campus," Hamilton said. "He was approached by the officers, and he was arrested without incident. There was no indication that he was going to resist or anything like that. He didn't flee or anything like that. He was taken into custody without issue and he was transported to our police, actually."

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office doesn’t anticipate any significant delay in the case against Rob Reiner’s son, Nick.

“We don't anticipate any significant delay more than is involved in a first degree murder case with special circumstances,” DA Nathan Hochman told reporters at a press conference Tuesday. Nick is set to be charged with two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders after his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, were found dead on Dec. 14. Hochman noted Nick also faces a special allegation of using a dangerous and deadly weapon.

“These are some of the most serious charges that a DA's office can bring against anyone,” the DA said. “And we anticipate that the discovery that we will produce to the defense will be robust. It will be very involved. They'll want adequate time to review it, though. Again, they'll want to go through every single factor that they can ascertain in the defense.”

Hochman claimed he doesn’t anticipate the case to move fast, but insisted it will be “very thorough.”

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has not yet made a decision on if the death penalty will be pursued in the case against Rob Reiner's son, Nick.

The charges Nick is set to face carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

"Now, prosecuting these cases involving family members are some of the most challenging and most heart wrenching cases that this office faces because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes involved."

DA Nathan Hochman said his office "will take the thoughts and desires of the family into consideration in making our decision."

Dr. Drew Pinsky discussed the likely cause of Nick Reiner's "wild behavior" while appearing on "The Will Cain Show."

"This is wild behavior, this is not a brain that's working normally, but on the streets of Los Angeles every day, there are people wielding machetes and knives," Pinsky said. "Meth addicts tend to go for those sorts of objects."

"Now we've heard that Rob Reiner's son had heroin addiction ... everything I have is that he's also on stimulants such as methamphetamine. That then explains the wildness of this behavior. It's not something that you can use your rational brain to make sense of because people on meth are wildly psychotic."

During Tuesday's press conference where Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced charges would be filed against Nick Reiner, he addressed special allegations tacked onto the upcoming charges.

"He has been alleged, one of the special allegations is that the murder was committed with a deadly weapon or a knife," Hochman said. ""As to where and how, the weapon will be — was located or will be located, that will actually be evidence will present in court."

Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, were both found dead at their Brentwood home on Sunday. The acclaimed movie director was 78 and Michele was 68.

The LAPD police chief was unable to share the exact timing of Rob Reiner and his wife's deaths during a press conference Tuesday.

"We don't have that kind of specificity yet," Jim McDonell told reporters while announcing the charges that will be filed against Reiner's son, Nick. "We're waiting on the coroner to be able to try and determine as best they can, at this point, time of death."

Authorities announced Nick will be charged with the double homicide of his parents during the update.

"These charges will be two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders," Hochman said. "He also faces a special allegation that he personally use a dangerous and deadly weapon that being a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty."

No decision has been made on if they'll seek the death penalty.

Nick Reiner did not attempt to flee during his arrest late Sunday night, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton confirmed details of Rob Reiner's son's arrest during a press conference Tuesday.

"He was arrested in a public area in the Exposition Park area near the University of Southern California campus," Hamilton said during a press conference. "He was approached by the officers, and he was arrested without incident. There was no indication that he was going to resist or anything like that. He didn't flee or anything like that. He was taken into custody without issue and he was transported to our police, actually."

Reiner and his wife were found dead inside their home on Dec. 14.

Nick Reiner will be charged with the double homicide of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced the charges Tuesday during a press conference with LAPD Chief Jim McDonell.

"These charges will be two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders," Hochman said. "He also faces a special allegation that he personally use a dangerous and deadly weapon that being a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty."

No decision has been made on if they'll seek the death penalty. Nick, 32, was initially scheduled to appear in court Tuesday for the first time, but his lawyer, Alan Jackson, confirmed to Fox News Digital that "he is not medically cleared to be transported to the court."

"He is going through medical clearance," Hochman said. "Something that everybody who goes who gets arrested and gets held in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department jail goes through. Once he is medically cleared, he will be brought to court to be arraigned on these charges."

After an initial investigation into Rob and Michele's homicides, authorities determined Nick to be "responsible for their deaths."

Nick was located and arrested at approximately 9:15 p.m. Sunday. He was booked on suspicion of murder and transferred Monday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

He was originally booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center before being transferred to the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

Nick Reiner's defense attorney Alan Jackson arrived at the home of Rob and Michele Reiner for the first time since the two were found dead inside on Dec. 14.

Jackson and a small group of people entered the property around 12:30 p.m., hours after confirming to Fox News Digital that Nick was "not medically cleared" to appear in court Tuesday. One of the members of the group can be identified as Reiner's assistant, Rocco.

It marks the first time anyone has been seen entering the property since police left the morning of Dec. 15.

The group was inside the home for 40 minutes before leaving. Jackson did not answer any questions from Fox News or other members of the press.

Fox News' Lee Ross contributed to this report.

Rob Reiner was a celebrated actor, director, and producer who first rose to fame as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on "All in the Family," which earned him two Emmys.

He went on to become one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers, directing classics such as "This Is Spinal Tap," "Stand by Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," "Misery," and "A Few Good Men."

Over decades, Reiner became known for shaping iconic moments in film and television and building a legacy as a versatile, culturally impactful storyteller.

Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, were both found dead at their Brentwood home on Sunday night. The acclaimed movie director was 78 and Michele was 68.