Officials just provided new details on the death investigation of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, producer Michele Singer Reiner.
Here’s what we learned:
Murder charges to come: The couple’s son, Nick Reiner, is accused of killing his parents and will face two counts of first degree murder, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. The charges, which will be filed this afternoon, carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole or the death penalty. The case, Hochman explained, rises to the level of “special circumstances” because of the multiple murders alleged, and Nick Reiner also will face a special allegation for allegedly using a knife, which is considered “a dangerous and deadly weapon.”
On the death penalty: No decision has been made on whether or not prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Nick Reiner, Hochman said. He mentioned that the District Attorney’s Office will take the “thoughts and desires of the family into consideration” when making that decision.
More details on the fatal incident: Police responded to the death investigation on Sunday in Brentwood, where they entered a residence and discovered the Reiners’ bodies, according to LA Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell. The evidence gathered by authorities resulted in the arrest of the couple’s son, who was taken into custody that night, McDonnell added. McDonnell also said investigators are not sure yet if the murders occurred on Saturday night or Sunday, which matters because the timing could impact how the case is prosecuted.
Finding Nick Reiner: Nick Reiner was found thanks to tools used by the LA police department’s robbery homicide unit, gang narcotics detectives and a US Marshals Service task force, McDonnell said. He was found in a public area of LA’s Exposition Park neighborhood near the University of Southern California campus and did not resist arrest, according to LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton. Officials are not sharing if family members provided information that led to Nick Reiner’s arrest, Hamilton said.
A “heart-wrenching” case: Officials commented on the “heart-wrenching” nature of the incident, with Hochman saying that prosecuting cases involving family members are among “the most challenging.” McDonnell said the case is “heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones, but for our entire city.”
CNN’s Elise Hammond, Aditi Sangal, Cindy Von Quednow, Taylor Romine contributed reporting.
