Slain Hollywood Director Rob Reiner’s son Nick made his first appearance in court today.
He is facing 1st degree murder charges for (allegedly) killing his parents.
Nick was barely visible in the court and was not shown on camera, though part of the hearing was recorded and aired on live TV.
Watch this clip of the hearing from Fox News:
BREAKING: Nick Reiner made his first court appearance today in a su*cide vest and did NOT enter a plea. His arraignment has been delayed until January 7, 2026.
Sandra Smith: “Why you didn’t just see Reiner on that video. He presented in a su*cide prevention vest. The defense… pic.twitter.com/NE8EvcvbzW
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) December 17, 2025
BREAKING: Nick Reiner made his first court appearance today in a su*cide vest and did NOT enter a plea. His arraignment has been delayed until January 7, 2026.
Sandra Smith: “Why you didn’t just see Reiner on that video. He presented in a su*cide prevention vest. The defense then objected to the media filming him in such a manner.”
The judge confirmed that Nick Reiner will remain in custody without bail until his arraignment.
Court sketches show Nick Reiner shackled and wearing a suicide prevention vest.
Take a look:
🚨NEW: Nick Reiner, who has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, made his first court appearance wearing a suicide-prevention vest. His hands and feet were also shackled. Reiner's arraignment is set for… pic.twitter.com/z56hvlVWhN
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 17, 2025
Originally, Nick was supposed to be arraigned next week, but his lawyer got it delayed for about a month.
The New York Post reported:
His arraignment was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but his celebrity lawyer Alan Jackson said he was not medically cleared to travel to court.
ADVERTISEMENTThe Reiners’ daughter, Romy, stumbled on the gruesome crime scene when she went to check on her parents after a massage therapist received no response at the gate, the New York Times reported.
Nick had long faced troubles with drug addiction, cycling in and out of rehab at least 17 times.
Nick displayed erratic behavior that caught the attention of other guests at the bash, and the nepo brat even got into a tiff with comedian Bill Hader, sources told outlets.
He’s also had a tumultuous relationship with his father for years, including when he had an argument with his parents at Conan O’Brien’s holiday party Saturday night, according to sources.
While we didn’t see any footage of Nick at today’s hearing, surveillance video has just been released showing him buying a drink at a gas station just hours after the murder of his parents.
Watch that clip here:
Newly obtained footage shows Nick Reiner purchasing a drink at a gas station moments before he was arrested.
He has been charged with the murders of his parents, renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer, according to court filings. https://t.co/twYsBQQiCO pic.twitter.com/Pfjfhdjrrc
— ABC News (@ABC) December 17, 2025
Nick will be held in custody without bail while waiting for his arraignment in January.
No decision has been yet as to whether he may face the death penalty.
The Los Angeles Times has more:
Flanked by his attorney, Alan Jackson, and two other lawyers, Reiner was barely visible from the courtroom gallery during the brief hearing. He donned a blue suicide prevention smock frequently worn by defendants who pose a risk of self-harm.
Reiner, 32, was charged with two counts of murder on Tuesday, and could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said that no decision had been made on seeking capital punishment in the Reiners’ slayings. Such reviews normally take months.
A judge approved Jackson’s request Wednesday to continue Reiner’s arraignment to Jan. 7. He did not enter a plea.
“There are very very complex, serious issues associated with this case,” that need to be analyzed, Jackson told reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing. Jackson did not answer any questions even as reporters probed him about his client’s mental health and asked to know who was paying for his legal services.
“We ask that during this process you allow the system to move forward in the way it was designed. Not with a rush to judgment. Not with jumping to conclusions. But with restraint and with dignity,” he said.
Reiner will continue to be held in Los Angeles County jail without bail.
Prosecutors allege Reiner fatally stabbed his 78-year-old father and 70-year-old mother sometime in the early morning hours on Sunday. Their bodies were found in the master bedroom of their Brentwood home around 3:40 p.m., authorities have said.
A massage therapist arrived at the couple’s home and, upon not receiving an answer at the property, called their daughter, Romy Reiner, 27, who lives nearby. She discovered the gruesome scene and had a friend call 911, according to a source who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation.
Nick Reiner, who lived in his parent’s guesthouse, checked into the Pierside Santa Monica hotel on Sunday, after the killings, according to a law enforcement source who spoke about the case on the condition of anonymity. Hotel staff also confirmed he stayed there and that police had been present at the upscale hotel since Sunday.



Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!