LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14 (Our Los Angeles) — A Los Angeles County grand jury has indicted Nick Reiner on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents, actor-director Rob Reiner and photographer-producer Michele Singer Reiner, at their Brentwood home in Los Angeles.
The indictment was returned July 20, 2026, and unsealed Aug. 12, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Reiner pleaded not guilty after the indictment was made public. He remains in custody without bail.
The case is being prosecuted in Los Angeles County Superior Court. A pretrial hearing is listed for Sept. 15 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles. No trial date has been reported.
What are the charges?
The indictment accuses Reiner of two counts of first-degree murder. It also includes special-circumstance allegations involving multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait. Prosecutors further allege that he personally used a knife as a dangerous or deadly weapon.
These are allegations, not findings that Reiner committed the killings. A grand-jury indictment means prosecutors presented evidence that persuaded the grand jury there was sufficient legal basis to charge him. It does not determine guilt. The evidence presented to the grand jury was not public.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has not said whether it will seek the death penalty. If Reiner is convicted as charged, prosecutors say he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
What happened before the indictment?
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their Brentwood home on Dec. 14, 2025. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office listed the cause of death as “multiple sharp force injuries.”
Nick Reiner was arrested later that day in the Exposition Park area near the University of Southern California, according to law-enforcement accounts. Prosecutors announced or filed the initial murder charges on Dec. 16, 2025.
The indictment adds the lying-in-wait allegation to the case. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the new allegation was included in the indictment unsealed Aug. 12. The prosecution has not publicly established a motive, the precise time of death or the full evidentiary basis for the arrest in the information available.
What does “lying in wait” mean?
“Lying in wait” is a legal allegation that a person waited for a victim, concealed their presence or otherwise took advantage of the victim’s lack of awareness before an attack. In a murder case, such an allegation can be treated as a special circumstance and may affect the potential sentence if the defendant is convicted.
The indictment’s allegation is not proof that the legal standard was met. Prosecutors would have to prove the charge and any special circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
What happens next?
The Sept. 15 hearing is expected to address the next steps in the criminal case. Pretrial proceedings can include decisions about evidence, motions and scheduling. The indictment does not mean a trial will begin immediately.
Reiner’s not-guilty plea requires prosecutors to prove every element of the charges in court. His defense can challenge the prosecution’s evidence and the special-circumstance allegations.
The supplied court information does not identify the case number or judge. The records also do not establish the current status of the defense team. Attorneys identified earlier in the case include Alan Jackson and Kimberly Greene.
