By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-09-16 15:16:36 | Updated at 2026-09-16 16:04:13
51 minutes ago
Nick Reiner appears during his arraignment in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Feb. 23, 2026. Chris Torres/Reuters
Los Angeles County prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, the son of actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner, on charges that he fatally stabbed his parents.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said on Tuesday that prosecutors reached the decision after conducting an extensive review of the case and consulting with members of the Reiner family, law enforcement officials, and others involved in the investigation.
The decision removes capital punishment as a possible sentence if Reiner is convicted, and he now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Although the death penalty remains authorized under state law, California has not carried out an execution since 2006. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a moratorium on executions in 2019, withdrawing lethal injection protocols and immediately closing the execution chamber.
The 33-year-old is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents, after the filmmaker and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Brentwood home in Los Angeles on Dec. 14, 2025. Nick Reiner was arrested later that day and has remained in custody without bail.
Prosecutors had previously alleged circumstances that could have made the case eligible for the death penalty, including the killing of multiple victims and the alleged use of a deadly weapon.
A grand jury later indicted Nick Reiner on July 20, with prosecutors also alleging that he was lying in wait prior to killing his parents. He has pleaded not guilty.
Reiner’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene, said prosecutors made the right decision.
“Nick has a serious mental illness and a long history of struggling with self-medication. His circumstances are a tragic example of how difficult it can be for people experiencing significant mental health challenges to access and navigate the treatment and support they need,” Greene said in a statement.
“Nothing can undo the profound loss experienced by the Reiner family and those who loved them. Our hearts remain with the family.”
At Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Sam Ohta said he will hear arguments on the issue next month.
Rob Reiner made his mark in film and television, defining multiple genres and acclaimed classics over a career spanning more than five decades.
He rose to fame in the 1970s for his role on the CBS sitcom “All in the Family,” before making his directorial debut with “This Is Spinal Tap” in 1984.
Last week, Rob Reiner received a posthumous Emmy Award for “Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series” for his performance in FX’s “The Bear,” at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Director Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner arrive for the Human Rights Campaign 2019 Los Angeles dinner at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles on March 30, 2019. Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/AFP via Getty Images
The award marked Rob Reiner’s third Emmy and his first acting Emmy nod in nearly half a century. He previously won for “Best Supporting Actor in Comedy” twice, both for his performance as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on “All in the Family,” in 1974 and 1978.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
