Jake and Romy Reiner break silence on 'unimaginable pain' after parents Rob and Michele's murder
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Days after Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found dead in their Brentwood home, their children, Jake and Romy Reiner, spoke publicly about their "unimaginable pain."
Authorities allege the Hollywood couple was killed by their son, Nick Reiner. He was arrested, charged with murder, and made his first court appearance on Wednesday, December 17.
Jake and Romy Reiner say their parents were their ‘best friends’
The children of the slain Hollywood couple are speaking publicly for the first time following their parents’ deaths and the arrest of their brother, Nick.
Rob and Michele’s children, Jake and Romy, said words cannot capture the pain they are feeling.
“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” they wrote.
They called the loss of their parents "horrific and devastating" and added that no one should ever have to endure such suffering.
“The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience,” the statement said.
The siblings also paid tribute to their parents, saying, “They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends."
They expressed gratitude for the support they have received. “We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life,” they wrote.
The statement concluded with a request for privacy and compassion: “We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.”
What happened during Nick Reiner's first court appearance?
At a hearing in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, prosecutors and Nick’s defense team agreed to postpone his arraignment until January 7, when he will have another chance to enter a plea. In court, Nick responded only "yes, your honor" when Judge Theresa McGonigle asked if he understood his right to a speedy trial.
Earlier, the judge instructed media gathered outside the courthouse not to film Nick, who appeared in a jail-issued suicide-prevention smock.
Inside the courtroom, reporters could not see him clearly because he sat in a corner out of view, but glimpses afterward showed his face expressionless and his arms bare and shackled.
Nick had been scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday but was not medically cleared, according to his lawyer and prosecutors.
Outside the courthouse, his attorney, Alan Jackson, said the case involves "complex and serious issues" that need careful handling in the coming weeks.
“We ask that during this process, you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move forward. Not with a rush to judgement, not with jumping to conclusions, but with restraint and with dignity, and with the respect that this system and this process deserves, and that the family deserves,” Jackson said.
Until his next hearing on January 7, Nick will remain in custody at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. If he pleads not guilty and is convicted, he could face life without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will seek the death penalty.
