Court records show Nick Reiner was under conservatorship from 2020 to 2021 as he now faces murder charges in the deaths of his parents.
New court details have emerged in the case of Nick Reiner, the son of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner, revealing that he was previously placed under a mental health conservatorship that lasted from 2020 to 2021. The disclosure comes as the 32-year-old faces charges related to the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
According to reports citing the New York Times, a clerk at the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed that the conservatorship ended in 2021. Few additional details about the legal arrangement have been made public.
Nick Reiner has been charged with two counts of murder and is scheduled to be arraigned on February 23. He has not yet entered a plea and will now be represented by a public defender following the withdrawal of his private attorney.
Conservatorship and mental health background
The conservatorship placed Nick Reiner under the care of Steven Baer, a licensed fiduciary appointed by the court. Baer told the New York Times that mental illness is “widely misunderstood” and described the case as a profound tragedy.
Another source familiar with the matter said Reiner had, at different times, been diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The source claimed he had been receiving treatment and medication but had recently changed prescriptions due to side effects roughly a month before the deaths.
Conservatorships, which involve granting another person control over aspects of an individual’s life, gained widespread public attention during the highly publicized case involving Britney Spears. In Reiner’s case, the court has not released information explaining why the conservatorship ended or what conditions applied during that period.
Legal developments and attorney withdrawal
Nick Reiner’s former lawyer, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case last week, citing circumstances he said were beyond both his and his client’s control. Speaking outside the courthouse, Jackson maintained that Reiner is not guilty under California law but said he was legally and ethically unable to explain the reasons for stepping aside.
Prosecutors have taken a sharply different view. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office is confident it can secure a conviction, describing the case as involving the brutal killing of Reiner’s parents.
Deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Brentwood home in Los Angeles on December 14. Police said there were no signs of forced entry and that investigators quickly determined the deaths were homicides. Nick Reiner was later arrested and formally charged.
Family friends told local media that Nick Reiner had appeared unsettled at a social gathering the night before the deaths, and that an argument reportedly occurred between him and his father. Authorities have not publicly detailed a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Personal history and family reaction
Nick Reiner has previously spoken openly about struggles with addiction, homelessness, and recovery. He co-wrote the 2015 film “Being Charlie,” directed by his father, which drew on his personal experiences with substance abuse and rehabilitation.
In past interviews, he described periods of homelessness across several US states before eventually returning to Los Angeles and reconnecting with his family after achieving sobriety.
Tracy Reiner, Rob Reiner’s adopted daughter from his marriage to the late Penny Marshall, told NBC News she was in shock following the deaths, describing the family as deeply close-knit.
Case continues
As the legal process moves forward, Nick Reiner remains in custody awaiting arraignment. The case has drawn national attention due to the prominence of the victims and the complex intersection of mental health, family tragedy, and criminal law. Further court proceedings are expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the deaths and Reiner’s prior conservatorship.
