Nick Reiner was ‘declining’ before parents’ death despite dad’s claim he was clean for six years

BRENTWOOD, LOS ANGELES: Despite Rob Reiner’s recent public optimism regarding his son’s recovery, Nick Reiner was reportedly in a state of "declining" mental health prior to the brutal stabbing deaths of his parents. 

The 32-year-old suspect is now charged with first-degree murder after the famous filmmaker and his wife Michele Reiner were found dead in their home early on Sunday morning.

Rob Reiner celebrated son’s sobriety months before tragedy

This incident is a shock to those who have been following the family’s progress, especially after Rob Reiner spoke warmly of his son’s progress just months ago. 

In a September interview with NPR, the renowned director shared that Nick was "in a really good place" and proudly stated that "He’s been great … hasn’t been doing drugs for over six years." 

It is to be noted that Reiner, had been open about the challenges of parenting a child with addiction, admitting that while he was always a "hands-on" father, he acknowledged the complications of their bond. 

"I’m sure I made mistakes and, you know, I’ve talked about that with him since," the filmmaker previously noted.

Family claims violent turn was completely unforeseen

While those close to the family noted a recent downward trend in Nick’s well-being, the extreme violence of the alleged crime was reportedly unforeseen. 

A source told People that Nick had been "declining lately," yet emphasized that he had never previously shown an inclination toward such aggression. 

"If they thought he was violent, things would have been very different," the source claimed, adding that "At the worst of it, it hadn’t been like this. I don’t think anyone could have ever seen anything like this coming." 

It may also be noted that Nick’s history included episodes of significant volatility, like he once admitted in 2018 to trashing his parents’ guest house during a m***-fueled rage, stating that "Everything in the guest house got wrecked. I literally punched the TV."

Nick Reiner’s artistic journey ends in court trial

The relationship between the director and his son was deeply intertwined with their personal struggles, with working together in the 2016 film "Being Charlie," which was inspired by Nick’s real-life battle with substance abuse. 

At the time, Rob Reiner called his son the "heart and soul of the film." Sources also indicated that the couple "felt enormous guilt for so long that they couldn’t help Nick get his life together." 

Following his arrest, Nick appeared in court this Wednesday morning with a blank stare, remaining in custody as his formal arraignment is scheduled for early January.