The most devastating chapter in the Reiner family tragedy is now formally documented. Newly released death certificates from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health provide clarity about how legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, died, and just how quickly their final moments unfolded.
The documents confirm that both victims died within “minutes” of sustaining “multiple sharp force injuries” inflicted “with a knife, by another.” Rob Reiner was 78. Michele Reiner was 70.
Final moments:
According to the official certificates, Rob and Michele were killed on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, inside their Brentwood, Los Angeles home. Rob was pronounced dead at approximately 3:45 p.m., with Michele declared dead just one minute later at 3:46 p.m. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled both deaths a homicide.
Their bodies were later cremated, and their remains were returned to their son Jake Reiner, 34, the documents state. The release of these records marks the first time the public has seen the formal medical determination of the couple’s cause and manner of death, moving beyond early reports into official government documentation.
Discovery and arrest:
The Reiners were found by their daughter, Romy Reiner, 28, who discovered their bodies in the late afternoon of Dec. 14. Sources previously told Page Six that the couple had been stabbed, with claims their throats were slit.
Hours later, their son Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested near Exposition Park in downtown Los Angeles. Authorities allege he left behind bloody evidence at a Santa Monica hotel before his arrest. Nick has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.
He is currently being held in solitary confinement at Twin Towers Correctional Facility and is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 7, 2026. Prosecutors say he faces a potential sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Nick is reportedly expected to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.
A family under strain:
Nick Reiner had been diagnosed with schizophrenia before the murderers and reportedly struggled for years with addiction and mental health issues.
About a month before the murders, doctors allegedly changed his schizophrenia medications, after which he began acting “erratic and dangerous.” Family sources say efforts were underway to stabilize his condition when tragedy struck.
The night before the killings, Rob and Michele reportedly brought Nick to a Christmas party at Conan O’Brien’s home. They were said to be “reluctant to leave him home alone” because his “extreme and stressful behavior” had escalated and “grown degrees even more concerning in recent weeks.”
During the gathering, witnesses claimed Nick behaved strangely and argued with his parents. At one point, Rob reportedly confided that he was “petrified” his son could one day “hurt” him.
The death certificates now serve as a crucial piece of evidence for prosecutors as the case advances. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman’s office has emphasized the seriousness of the charges, citing the alleged use of a deadly weapon and the intimate nature of the crime.
Remembering Rob and Michele Reiner:
Rob Reiner, the son of comedy icon Carl Reiner, was a towering figure in Hollywood, known for directing 'This Is Spinal Tap,' 'Stand by Me,' 'When Harry Met Sally,' and 'A Few Good Men.' His most recent project, 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,' was released earlier this year.
Rob and Michele met during the making of 'When Harry Met Sally' and married in 1989. In addition to Nick, Romy, and Jake, Rob is survived by his adopted daughter, Tracy Reiner, 61, from his first marriage to Penny Marshall.
In a statement following the arrests, Jake and Romy described their loss as “unimaginable” and asked for privacy as they mourn. They later told People they were grateful for the outpouring of support and shared that a memorial service will be held “at a later date.”
As investigators continue piecing together what happened inside the Reiners’ home, the newly released death certificates stand as stark, official testimony to the final moments of two lives, and the heartbreaking collapse of a celebrated Hollywood family.