Nick Reiner won't face death penalty in murder of Rob and Michele Reiner - USA Today
Nick Reiner will not face the death penalty for the alleged murders of parents Michele and Rob Reiner.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced during a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 15, that his office has decided not to seek the death penalty against the 32-year-old "after a careful and thorough review." Reiner is accused of stabbing his parents to death at their Los Angeles home in December.
"That means that the maximum sentence that Mr. Reiner will be looking at is life without the possibility of parole," Hochman said. He also revealed the decision was based on several factors, including the opinions of the Reiner family.
"We did speak to Nick Reiner's siblings," Hochman said of Jake and Romy Reiner. "They made their views very clear, and we took their views into consideration in ultimately deciding not to seek the death penalty."
Hochman concluded the conference, which occurred ahead of a hearing in the case, by stating his office is ready to begin the trial whenever the defense is, but noted he doesn't expect that to be until 2027.
This announcement comes one month after a grand jury formally indicted Nick Reiner on two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait. He pleaded not guilty to both charges at the time.
While announcing the indictment, Hoffman said, "This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing.”
Hochman highlighted the new special circumstance allegation of lying in wait, along with an additional allegation "that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife," according to the Aug. 12 release.
"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," Hochman said.
On Dec. 14, Reiner was arrested after his father, 78, and mother, 70, were found dead in their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Authorities said the couple died from "multiple sharp force injuries” after Nick Reiner stabbed them, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's preliminary findings.
Nick Reiner was first charged with murder on Dec. 16, and later pleaded not guilty. The August indictment, which the district attorney said was returned July 20, added the special circumstance of lying in wait.
Rob Reiner was an iconic figure in Hollywood known for his work as a highly acclaimed director. In the late '80s into the early '90s, he went on one of the great streaks in film history when he directed five all-time classics: "Stand by Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally…," "Misery" and "A Few Good Men."
Reiner won a posthumous Emmy Award this year for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his appearance in FX's "The Bear." At the main Emmys ceremony on Monday, Sept. 14, Jamie Lee Curtis accompanied the In Memoriam segment with an emotional tribute for the late couple.
Curtis also noted that Reiner broke the record of his own father, Carl Reiner, for longest gap between Emmys for acting, with his last being 48 years ago. Carl Reiner's wins were 37 years apart in 1958 and 1995.
"We all miss Rob and Michele and all those we lost this year," Curtis said.
