Nick Reiner's Family Reportedly Plans To Steer Clear Of His Trial As It 'Would Be Too Painful'
By Favour Adegoke on February 27, 2026 at 9:45 PM EST
Updated on February 27, 2026 at 9:45 PM EST
Nick Reiner reportedly will face his upcoming trial without the support of his family in the courtroom.
The 32-year-old is charged with two counts of murder in the killings of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, who were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home last December.
So far, his family has declined to hire a new private attorney on his behalf and has not visited him at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, where he remains detained ahead of the trial.
Nick Reiner's Family Intends Not To Attend His Trial
Nick Reiner's prosecution is still in its early days, given that he just had his official arraignment less than a week ago following his arrest in December.
The 32-year-old is facing charges of murdering his high-profile parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, an incident that many are still reeling from. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and waived his rights to a speedy preliminary hearing.
When his trial eventually arrives, the 32-year-old will likely be facing his troubles alone, with no support from his family in the courtroom, a source has revealed to Rob Shuter's #ShuterScoop.
According to the source, the decision boils down to the emotional toll Nick's alleged action of murdering his parents has taken on the family.
"They will not attend the trial," the insider said about the situation. "Sitting in that room would be too painful."
Nick Reiner's Siblings Don't Want To Be In The Same Room With Him Again
Within the family, Nick's siblings, Romy Reiner and Jake Reiner, appear to be the most deeply affected by their parents' deaths.
For them, coping with the mental toll of the tragedy goes beyond skipping the trial; they have also chosen not to be in the same room with their brother again.
"This has devastated the entire family. They're grieving in their own way," another insider said of Nick's siblings.
They continued, "Protecting their mental health has to come first."
Nick Reiner's Loved Ones Are Doing What They Need To Do To 'Move Forward'
According to an insider, the actions of Nick's siblings and the family as a whole should not be interpreted as hatred toward the alleged killer son.
Instead, it's a necessary step for them to eventually come to terms with the gruesome deaths of Rob and Michele.
"[The Reiners are] still heartbroken," the source noted about the unfortunate situation with Nick and his siblings.
They added, "But they're doing what they need to do to move forward."
Nick Reiner's Family Won't Fund His Legal Defense
Nick's family's decision to distance themselves from him also extends to excluding their finances from involvement in his defense.
The accused initially retained high-profile attorney Alan Jackson, who stepped down in January, reportedly due to financial reasons.
He was later replaced by veteran public defender Kimberly Greene, although many had expected that Nick's family would hire a new private lawyer on his behalf.
Unfortunately for Nick, his public defender is expected to remain on the case, as TMZ spoke with a source who confirmed that his siblings and family have no intention of hiring a private lawyer. They will also not be covering any legal bills that may arise during the course of his prosecution.
"Nick's defense is Nick's defense. They're not involved," a source told the news outlet after the hearing.
Ron Reiner's Alleged Killer Son Faces The Death Penalty If Found Guilty At Trial
Nick's next court appearance is a preliminary hearing set for April 29, as requested by Greene. However, it is possible that more time may be sought, given the workload of the typical public defender.
After the hearing, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman spoke with the press, where he revealed that the prosecution still intends to seek the death penalty against Nick if he is found guilty.
The death penalty is on the table due to the special circumstances allegation included in Nick's charges.
For now, Nick's attorney has refrained from speaking with the press about the case, but it is believed that she may structure his case around an insanity plea.
Earlier reports had indicated that Nick was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was undergoing treatment for the condition. However, a new set of prescription medications reportedly caused erratic behavior in the days leading up to the murder of his parents.
Due to Nick's health condition, this makes the insanity plea a plausible argument, but it remains unclear if it would be sufficient to sway the jury at trial.
