In an unusual twist of fate, a Texas death row inmate, Nanon Williams, reports receiving three emails from the late Rob and Michele Reiner, long after their tragic passing. Williams, who has been incarcerated since the age of 17, shared with NBC News that his unexpected friendship with the Hollywood couple began in 2016.
Williams, now 51 and held at the W.F. Ramsey Unit in Brazoria County, Texas, first connected with the Reiners following their interest in his presentation, “Lyrics From Lockdown.” This performance delved into themes of race and the complexities of the penal system, resonating deeply with the couple.
Though Williams was convicted of murder, a crime he maintains he did not commit, he found an ally in the Reiners. NBC News reported that the couple had communicated with him almost daily, expressing their support by inviting him to live with them should he ever be released.
Their bond extended beyond mere correspondence. Romy Reiner, the couple’s daughter, discovered her parents’ lifeless bodies in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home on December 14. She confirmed that over the years, Williams had become “like family” to them. The late director Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer, had indeed embraced Williams as one of their own.
NBC News reported that the late couple emailed Williams ‘almost daily’ and ‘had invited him to live with them if he ever got out of prison.’
Romy Reiner, who discovered her dead parents in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home on December 14 confirmed that Williams ‘became like family’ in the years after famed director Rob Reiner and his photographer wife Michele Singer made contact with him.
A Texas death row inmate claims he received a total of three emails from the late Rob and Michele Reiner that reached him behind bars following their tragic deaths. Pictured in 2023
Williams, 51, who is being held at the W.F. Ramsey Unit in Brazoria County, Texas, told NBC News he had forged a friendship with the Hollywood couple since first connecting with them in 2016
Williams said Michele sent him an email in the hours before she was killed – but he didn’t receive it until days after she had died.
According to NBC News, email delivery to inmates can lag due to security clearances, which can extend into hours or days.
Williams described how he was looking on a tablet the prison provides when he saw news of their murders and sent an email to Michele.
It read, ‘Please, this can’t be true. Please tell me the news is lying.’
Following their deaths, William said he received a total of three emails from the couple on his tablet, the final one sent the night before their death.
Williams said that the final email from Michele came after the couple, daughter Romy and family friends Billy and Janice Crystal took in a performance of Lyrics From Lockdown in Los Angeles two days prior to their killings.
Michele said that both she and Billy Crystal – who had collaborated with Rob Reiner on classic films, such as When Harry Met Sally… and The Princess Bride – were moved by the performance of Williams’ writings, as she said it was ‘amazing.’
The late couple emailed Williams ‘almost daily’ and ‘had invited him to live with them if he ever got out of prison,’ NBC News reported. Pictured in NYC in February 2025
Williams said Michele told him, ‘We all said that we can’t wait to watch it with you.’
Williams added that while the Reiners had tried to have his controversial conviction overturned, it wasn’t a move they made for social clout.
‘Rob and Michele didn’t want credit for trying to help me,’ said Williams. ‘It was just because they loved me.’
Williams said his access to media had been limited in the 30+ years he had been behind bars, and he ‘didn’t really know who Rob was.’
Williams said that while he talked about his experiences to the couple on the phone, they both had emotional responses – in different ways.
‘The more they learned the more pissed off Rob became, and the more loving Michele became,’ Williams said. ‘Michele was my heart.’
Williams called Rob and Michele Reiner ‘an integral part of my life’ in a chat with NBC News, adding, ‘They became a part of me.’
