Nick Reiner, the son of filmmaker Rob Reiner, had been under a mental health conservatorship five years prior to allegedly killing his parents, following a change in his schizophrenia medication, sources have revealed.
According to family insiders who spoke to The New York Times, Reiner was removed from the conservatorship—known for greatly limiting an individual’s autonomy—in 2021.
The Times reported that he was subsequently placed on a medication regimen for schizophrenia, which effectively managed his condition but led to severe side effects.
Aged 32, Reiner transitioned to a new medication roughly a month before his parents, director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle, were tragically found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles residence.
Previously, Reiner had been subjected to a conservatorship under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (L.P.S.), a California law from 1967 that allows for involuntary psychiatric care.
This form of conservatorship differs from a general probate conservatorship, such as the one Britney Spears experienced, which involves court oversight of a person’s medical and financial affairs.
Meanwhile, L.P.S. conservatorships are initiated by a doctor and typically originates from an involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. Steven Baer, a licensed fiduciary, was appointed as his conservator.
Baer told the Times mental health ‘is an epidemic that is widely misunderstood and this is a horrible tragedy.’
Nick Reiner had been placed in a mental health conservatorship five years before allegedly murdering his parents, it is claimed
Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14. They are seen with Reiner in 2014
Once approved by officials from the Office of Public Guardian, a professional conservator, typically a family member, makes decisions about the person’s medical treatment and medication usage.
That specific conservatorship lasts one year. Afterward, the conservator can renew it if they wish to do so. It is unclear why Reiner’s did not last more than a year.
Schizophrenia medication, also known as antipsychotic medication, helps reduce symptoms like paranoia, hallucinations, mania, and depression, but they also come with serious side effects, including weight gain.
Reiner was first diagnosed with schizophrenia disorder around 2020, TMZ reported.
According to the insider, Reiner raised concerns with his doctors about his weight gain. Photos over the years showed his weight increased as he got older.
However, doctors allegedly accommodated Reiner’s request and changed the drugs that had been stabilizing him.
The new medication triggered increasingly alarming, unsafe, and dangerous behavior that only worsened over time and culminated in the alleged murders, per the outlet.
Rob and Michele noticed the changes in their son’s behavior but were unsure of what to do.
Steven Baer, a licensed fiduciary, was appointed as Reiner’s conservator. That specific conservatorship lasts one year. It is unclear why his did not go beyond a year
Doctors also did not intervene by placing Reiner on a temporary psychiatric hold, which could have lasted up to 14 days.
The night before the killings, Reiner attended a star-studded holiday party hosted by Conan O’Brien. His parents brought him along because they were concerned and wanted to ‘keep an eye on him.’
Guests at the party said Reiner displayed antisocial and erratic behavior, including staring at attendees and asking them odd questions. He and his father were also involved in a loud argument at the event.
Reiner was living with his parents at the time, staying in the guesthouse of their Brentwood mansion after years of substance abuse issues, at least 18 stints in rehab ,and bouts of homelessness.
Rob was a prolific director whose work included This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me and A Few Good Men.
He met Michele Singer, a photographer whom he later married, during the production of When Harry Met Sally.
More than a decade ago, Reiner publicly discussed his struggles with addiction and mental health after writing the film Being Charlie with his father, which was loosely based on their lives.
Reiner was arrested within hours near the University of Southern California campus and later charged with the murders of his famous parents.
The night before the killings, his parents brought him along to a star-studded party because they were concerned and wanted to ‘keep an eye on him’
Reiner was expected to plead not guilty by reason of insanity before his defense attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the high-profile case.
He was set to be arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder on January 7 at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles.
Reiner was expected to plead not guilty by reason of insanity before his defense attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the high-profile case.
At a press conference, Jackson explained that ‘circumstances beyond our control … and beyond Reiner’s control’ had made it ‘impossible’ for his representation to continue.
He insisted that his former client was innocent.
‘I’ll be very clear about this, my team and I remain deeply committed to Nick Reiner and to his best interests,’ Jackson said.
He said that the ‘the legal process will reveal the true facts’ about the case.
Jackson added: ‘What we’ve learned – and you can take this to the bank – is that pursuant to the law of this state, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that! We wish him the very best moving forward.’
Rob was a prolific director whose work included This Is Spinal Tap and more. He met Michele Singer, a photographer whom he later married, during the production of When Harry Met Sally
Reiner’s case was reassigned to public defender Kimberly Greene, who also spoke following the recent hearing.
Greene said that Reiner understood what was happening, but that she had only talked with him ‘for 30 seconds today.’
His arraignment was rescheduled for February 23 by Judge Theresa McGonigle of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.
If convicted, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors have not yet said whether they would pursue capital punishment.
Reiner did not enter a plea during his first court appearance on December 17.
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