Nick Reiner, son of filmmaker Rob Reiner, was reportedly "declining" prior to allegedly murdering his parents, Rob and Michele Singer Reiner. This comes after Rob Reiner had publicly stated earlier in the year that his son had been clean from drugs for six years. A source close to the family indicated that while Nick had a history of being "self-destructive," he had never shown signs of violence, and that if his parents had perceived him as violent, the situation might have been handled differently.
The source also mentioned that Rob and Michele Reiner felt a long-standing guilt over their inability to help Nick overcome his struggles. Rob Reiner had been open about his son's addiction and their complex relationship, telling NPR in September that Nick was in a "really good place" and had been drug-free for over six years. Reiner acknowledged making mistakes in his efforts to help his middle child, stating he was very hands-on and "never, ever too busy."
The father and son collaborated on the film "Being Charlie," which was inspired by Nick's struggle with addiction and co-written by Nick himself. Rob Reiner described Nick as the "heart and soul of the film." A former neighbor had previously alleged that Nick had been violent before, though specific details were not provided, while a security guard in the neighborhood reported never witnessing any violence from Nick. In a 2018 interview, Nick Reiner admitted to destroying his parents' guest house during a methamphetamine-fueled rage, stating, "Everything in the guest house got wrecked. I literally punched the TV." Nick, 32, faces first-degree murder charges after allegedly stabbing his parents to death early Sunday morning. His arraignment is scheduled for early January.