Nick Reiner Pleads Not Guilty to the Murders of His Parents

Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner. Nick, 32, was arrested last year after the Reiners were found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14. If convicted, Nick could face life in prison without a chance for parole. His charges also make him eligible for the death penalty, though ABC News reports that District Attorney Nathan Hochman said on Monday that a decision has not been made on whether to pursue that sentence.

It is possible — and not uncommon — for lawyers representing criminal defendants to enter a not-guilty plea and modify it later. Nick’s plea was entered on his behalf on February 23 by public defender Kimberly Greene, who was appointed to represent him after his previous defense attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case last month. At the time, Jackson cited “circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick’s control.” However, he maintained his former client’s innocence, asserting that “pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.” 

The New York Times previously reported that Nick was placed under a yearlong conservatorship in 2020 related to mental-health challenges. Nick made his first court appearance following his parents’ deaths while wearing a suicide-prevention smock but did not wear one when his plea was entered on Monday, according to the Associated Press. He is next scheduled to appear in court on April 29 to schedule a preliminary hearing, where a judge will decide if prosecutors have enough evidence to bring this case to trial.