Rob Reiner’s son Nick apprehended near USC hours after parents found dead in Brentwood home

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, was not at his parents’ Brentwood home when their bodies were discovered on Sunday afternoon.

Instead, police later found him several miles away near the University of Southern California, roughly six hours after the grim discovery.

According to ABC News, Nick had allegedly left the Brentwood residence and traveled a short distance before officers ultimately located him near USC’s campus. Law enforcement moved “quickly,” and he was taken into custody on Sunday night, December 14, on suspicion of m*rder.

Nick Reiner arrested on m*rder charges; court appearance set

Authorities arrested Nick Reiner at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Sunday, ABC News reported. When reached by PEOPLE, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed where the arrest took place.

“The location of the suspect’s arrest was in the Exposition Park area near USC,” an LAPD public information officer said.

Nick was taken into custody several hours after police found Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner dead inside their home earlier that day. The Los Angeles Police Department said officers discovered the bodies at about 3:40 pm. Sunday. Shortly afterward, investigators identified Nick as the prime suspect in the case.

By Sunday night, Nick had been formally arrested on murder charges in connection with his parents’ deaths. He is currently being held without bond at Los Angeles’ Twin Towers Jail.

A source told People that Nick is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, December 16. At this stage, police have not publicly detailed a motive or the precise circumstances surrounding the deaths. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to the apparent double homicide.

Nick Reiner reportedly fought with father night before deaths

There were reportedly signs of tension within the family in the hours before the killings. The night before Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner were found dead, Nick Reiner attended a holiday party hosted by Conan O’Brien, along with both of his parents.

Two sources who were at the gathering told People that Nick and Rob got into a “big fight” during the event. “Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous,” one source said.

The reported confrontation has drawn attention as investigators closely examine Nick’s movements and behavior in the lead-up to the deaths.

Rob and Michele married in 1989 and shared three children: Jake Reiner, Nick Reiner, and Romy Reiner. Before marrying Michele, Rob was married to actress and director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. During that marriage, Rob adopted Penny Marshall’s daughter, Tracy Reiner.

Rob is known for directing classics such as 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'A Few Good Men,' while Michele largely stayed out of the spotlight.

Nick Reiner opens up about addiction and homelessness

Nick Reiner has previously spoken publicly about his long-running struggles with addiction and periods of homelessness, which he said began during his teenage years. In a 2016 interview with People, Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner’s middle child described cycling in and out of rehab starting around age 15.

As his addiction worsened, Nick said he drifted away from home and spent extended periods living unhoused across multiple states. “I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas,” Nick recalled at the time. “I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun.”

Nick explained that his time on the streets followed his refusal to return to rehab programs recommended by his family. “If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless,” he told People.

He said the experience left a lasting mark. “That made me who I am now, having to deal with that stuff. I met crazy great people there, so out of my element. Now, I’ve been home for a really long time, and I’ve sort of gotten acclimated back to being in LA and being around my family. But there was a lot of dark years there,” he added.