"He acted like a madman." New details emerge about the murder of Hollywood director Rob Reiner.
New details are emerging about the double murder in Hollywood that killed renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, and for which their middle son, Nick, has been arrested. Media outlets have learned that the murder was preceded by a public family feud, and they are revealing details of the dark side lurking behind the glossy cover of the "dream factory."
Nick, 32, was arrested six hours after the Reiners' bodies were discovered: he was 25 kilometers from his parents' home, near the University of Southern California. Photos of his arrest surfaced online: police officers wrestled him to the ground on the street in front of passersby.
Nick Reiner is charged with the murder of his parents and is currently being held without bail and is reportedly under suicide watch.
Journalists learned that before the murder, Nick and his parents had attended a Christmas party hosted by famous comedian Conan O'Brien. Several sources told People that Nick stood out at the party by showing up in a sweatshirt, while everyone else was dressed according to the dress code.
The outlet's sources also reported that Nick behaved inappropriately and "creepily" at the party. "Nick was scaring everyone, acting crazy, constantly asking people if they were celebrities," an insider told the publication. He ended up in a "very loud argument" with Rob and Michelle, causing the couple to leave the party early.
It was previously reported that the parents' dead bodies were discovered by their daughter, 28-year-old Romy. She allegedly told police arriving at the scene that her brother "should be a suspect" because he was "dangerous."
Tabloids have chronicled the life of Nick Reiner, who has struggled with drug addiction for more than half his life. He has repeatedly undergone treatment in rehab centers and once admitted to destroying his parents' guest house after a drug-fueled rage. Sources close to the Reiner family also told the New York Post that Nick had violent tendencies, but "no one thought it would escalate to murder."
Nick also allegedly "hated his father," Rob, "intensely." Nick "hated himself for not being as talented, productive, or loved as his father," an insider told Page Six.
As a reminder, during his long career, 78-year-old Rob Reiner has worked with dozens of famous actors, including Leonardo DiCario, Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson, and has received numerous awards. As for Nick, who worked as a screenwriter, his successes were less impressive. He co-wrote the semi-autobiographical film "Being Charlie," directed by his father, about his nearly 20 stints in rehab.
According to Page Six, Rob and Michelle Rainer's "egocentric" son had serious "behavior issues" from a very early age. A yoga teacher who worked for Rob and Michelle back in the 2000s shared her memories with reporters.
Alanna Zabel told the Daily Mail that Nick, who was 11 or 12 years old at the time, would throw tantrums "for about 20 minutes," and that his outbursts were "intense" and accompanied by a lot of "screaming." She described Nick as a "little boy" with "behavior problems" who was "always upsetting everyone" but "trying to figure things out."
"There's also the fact that [the Reiner family lives] in Hollywood. I've seen it really hard for the children of Hollywood celebrities because they live in a fantasy world. Parents have a lot to focus on, including their children, but often it feels like they're neglecting them," she said, adding that living in a big city where drugs are so readily available can lead to "kids going down the wrong path without proper guidance."
Zabel also recalled Nick's unusual energy and wondered if it was related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as children and adolescents with ADHD are more likely to abuse substances. However, in his case, she believes his parents did everything they could to help him, despite being "driven" people with very busy schedules. But Nick "chose to perceive his circumstances negatively" and "neglected himself," she noted, explaining that he had a "self-centered mindset."
As a reminder, the deaths of Rob Reiner and his 68-year-old wife were reported on the night of December 15. The perpetrator stabbed the couple multiple times and attempted to cover his tracks by setting them on fire. The couple's middle son, Nick, almost immediately came under suspicion.
Rob Reiner is widely known in Hollywood as the director of Misery, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, The Bucket List, Rumor Has It, and other films. As an actor, he played the father of DiCaprio's character in The Wolf of Wall Street, among other films. Reiner was also one of the founders of the film production company Castle Rock Entertainment.
The director has been married to his wife, Michelle, since 1989. She worked as an actress and photographer. In addition to Nick and Romy, the couple has a 34-year-old son, Jack. Reiner was previously married to actress Penny Marshall; they have an adopted daughter.
Photo: Los Angeles Police Department Gang and Narcotics UnitMario Tama/Getty Imagesmichelereiner/Instagram/*