Nick Reiner was asked to leave a Hollywood party the night before he is accused of killing his parents after he allegedly walked up to the A-list guests and asked three bizarre questions.
Yesterday (16 December), Nick Reiner was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, accused of killing his parents Rob and Michele Reiner.
The California district attorney Nathan Hochman revealed that the specific circumstances of the case mean that Reiner may be facing the death penalty.
He has been accused of killing his parents with a knife in their bed, with multiple sources reporting witnessing an argument between Nick and his director father Rob at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party the night before their deaths.
Nick Reiner’s past issues with drug addiction have been well documented, leading to a strained relationship between the pair that eventually became the focus of a film written by Nick and directed by Rob.
At Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party, multiple reports have come out about Nick that indicate bizarre behaviour from the 32-year-old.
The Hollywood Reporter stated he had not been invited, but his parents had asked that he be allowed to tag along, with many attendees intimidated by Nick’s 6”3 frame and bizarre demeanour.
Bill Hader, SNL alumnus and Barry creator, has been connected to the story as Reiner supposedly interrupted him mid-conversation and, when informed it was a private conversation, stood staring at him for an ‘uncomfortable’ amount of time.
The Wall Street Journal reported that this was part of a wider set of odd behaviour in which he went up to attendees and asked each of them: “What's your name? What's your last name? Are you famous?”
This was a question he reportedly asked names as famous as Hader and Jane Fonda.
After his behaviour began to unsettle guests he was reportedly asked to leave and, shortly after, Rob and Nick Reiner were seen having a loud public argument over his behaviour.
Rob and Michele reportedly left shortly after, the last time they were seen alive.
An exact time of death has not been ascertained by coroners just yet, but reports state it could have been as early as the Saturday night after they returned from the party or the early hours of Sunday morning.
The next day Rob’s masseuse visited the home for an appointment and, when they were unable to enter, called daughter Romy Reiner who lives across the street.
Romy is the one who found her father’s body, running outside and asking her roommate to call 911.
Heartbreakingly, she reportedly did not know her mother had died until she was told by paramedics.
Nathan Hochman said of the horrific case: “Rob Reiner was a brilliant actor and director, an iconic force in our entertainment industry for decades. His wife, Michel Singer Reine, was an equally iconic photographer and producer.
“Their loss is beyond tragic. We will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice.”
He also claimed that ‘no decision’ had been made about the death penalty.