LOS ANGELES (FN) — The deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, have left Hollywood and their family reeling after the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed both were killed by multiple sharp force injuries in their Brentwood home.
The couple, discovered on 14 December, 2025 were pronounced dead at the scene. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested hours later and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege he used a knife in the killings.
The examiner’s report, released 17 December, 2025, ruled the deaths as homicides and noted the victims’ bodies were “ready for release” to the family, a clinical phrase that underscored the devastating reality that loved ones must now prepare funerals instead of holiday celebrations.
Reiner, 78, was beloved for directing films that shaped generations — Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally… — stories that celebrated friendship, love, and resilience. Michele Singer Reiner, 70, was a photographer and activist who devoted her life to capturing beauty and advocating for justice. Together, they built a family and a legacy that extended far beyond Hollywood.
Just weeks before his death, Rob Reiner condemned the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, calling it “an attack on democracy itself” and urging Americans to reject violence. His words now carry a haunting resonance, as he himself became the victim of a brutal act.
The killings shocked the entertainment industry. Tributes poured in from colleagues and fans who remembered Reiner not only as a gifted director but as a man who used his voice for causes larger than himself. Former President Joe Biden offered condolences, while friends described the couple as “the heart of their community.”
In stark contrast, President Donald Trump drew criticism for his remarks on Truth Social, where he described Reiner as “tortured and struggling” and claimed his death was linked to “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” The statement was widely condemned as disrespectful, politicizing a family tragedy at a moment when others were offering sympathy.
Nick Reiner made his first court appearance 17 December, 2025, the same day the medical examiner’s findings were released. The case remains under investigation, but for those who admired Rob and Michele Reiner, the loss is already immeasurable.
Other cases where parents were killed by their children: In 1989, Jose and Kitty Menendez were shot to death in their Beverly Hills home; their sons, Lyle and Erik Menendez, were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. In 2010, Florida businessman Neal Jacobson killed his wife and their twin sons in a case that stunned Palm Beach County.
Recent other family tragedies include 2010, Florida businessman Neal Jacobson shot and killed his wife and their twin sons before attempting suicide, a case that shocked Palm Beach County and 2009, Illinois man Michael Connolly murdered his two young sons, Duncan and Jack Leichtenberg, during a custody dispute, highlighting the dangers of family violence
