Nick Reiner Faces Life Or Death After Shocking Court Plea

The courtroom was silent as Nick Reiner stood before a judge Monday morning, facing charges that could cost him his freedom or his life. 

More than two months after the brutal stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, the 32-year-old entered a formal plea. 

With the possibility of life in prison or even the death penalty on the table, the high-profile case has taken another dramatic turn.

According to a report from Deadline, Nick Reiner appeared in a Los Angeles County courtroom and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. 

The charges come with “special circumstances,” meaning prosecutors could pursue life behind bars without parole or the death penalty if he is convicted.

His public defender, Kimberly Green, spoke on his behalf, stating, “Not guilty,” before Judge Theresa McGonigle. 

Nick himself spoke briefly, only to confirm his next court date of April 29. The hearing lasted less than ten minutes, and once again, bail was denied.

L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has been firm about his stance on the case. 

Shortly after Nick’s arrest, he publicly declared that the former screenwriter would be found guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt” by a jury.

This marks Nick’s third appearance in court since the December 2025 tragedy. He is currently being represented by the Public Defender’s Office after former attorney Alan Jackson withdrew from the case in early January without explanation.

Nick Reiner entered the courtroom around 9:17 am, seated behind a glass barrier. 

With a shaved head and jail-issued jumpsuit, he remained quiet throughout the proceedings. 

The courtroom inside the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center was filled with media, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and members of the public. 

Outside, cameras and reporters crowded the downtown Los Angeles courthouse steps.

The charges stem from the deaths of Rob and Michele, who were found in their West L.A. home on the first night of Hanukkah. 

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, both victims suffered “multiple sharp force injuries.” Official records related to the case have since been sealed at the LAPD's request.

The couple reportedly had been scheduled to attend a dinner that evening with Barack and Michelle Obama and others. 

Their bodies were discovered by their daughter, Romy Reiner, and a friend after a massage therapist could not access the gated property.

In the weeks leading up to the killings, Nick had been staying in a guesthouse on the family’s Brentwood estate. 

He has a history of addiction struggles and mental health challenges, and had previously been placed under a court-approved conservatorship between 2020 and 2021.

While prosecutors have made clear they are considering the most serious penalties available, the Reiner family’s position adds another layer to the case.

District Attorney Hochman stated after the arrest that he and his team wanted to consult with family members, including Romy, older brother Jake Reiner, and Tracy, Rob’s adopted daughter from his first marriage, about whether the death penalty should be pursued.

Sources close to the situation say the family has made it “very clear” they do not want prosecutors to seek the death penalty against Nick.

For now, the 32-year-old remains jailed without bail as the legal process unfolds. With the next court date set for late April, Nick Reiner stands at a crossroads.

Recently, The Blast reported that Rob’s family had been deliberately keeping their distance from Nick Reiner since he was arrested on murder charges.

Up until his court appearance on Monday, none of Nick’s relatives had visited him in jail or reached out directly, and family members reportedly cut off both emotional and financial contact.

One source explained that Jake and Romy were focusing on mourning their parents and that visiting Nick in custody “isn’t something they see themselves being able to do right now,” given the depth of the loss and the horrific circumstances. 

Another insider added that the siblings had completely cut him off, emphasizing that the decision was rooted in devastation over their parents’ deaths rather than a legal strategy.

In January, The Blast reported that the brutal killings Nick allegedly carried out against his parents were being examined through the lens of his reported history with substance abuse.

According to the report, some sources suggested the violence may have stemmed from what is commonly described as a “meth rage.” 

After the shocking incident became public in December, authorities tracked Nick to the Exposition Park area near the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he was ultimately taken into custody. 

Reporters later visited the neighborhood to ask locals about its drug activity and whether anyone recognized Nick. 

Per the report, a man who previously appeared on the “2 Angry Men” podcast described Exposition Park as a “drug den,” claiming users could obtain virtually any substance there, including meth, and added that Nick “looked familiar.” 

Further reports revealed that a medical examiner was struck by the extreme brutality of the killings and suspected Nick may have been under the influence of a powerful drug such as methamphetamine.