Originally appeared on E! Online
One of Michele Reiner’s final conversations has come to light.
Hours before she and her husband Rob Reiner were found dead in their Los Angeles home Dec. 14, the late activist sent an email to Nanon Williams, an inmate currently appealing his murder conviction whom the couple developed a close companionship with after seeing the stage play Lyrics From Lockdown—inspired by his letters from prison—in 2016.
In fact, the Reiners—whose son Nick Reiner was formally charged with their murders Dec. 16—attended a performance of the play with friends Billy Crystal and Janice Crystal as well as members of Williams’ family just two days before their bodies were discovered, according to NBC News. Michele described the evening in her last correspondence with him, which he received via his state-issued tablet, per the outlet.
“I’m sure you have heard from Tera [Williams’ wife],” she wrote in the Dec. 13 email obtained by NBC News, “but the show last night was amazing.”
Michele also expressed optimism that Williams—who is serving a sentence of life without parole for the 1992 murder of Adonius Collier after initially receiving the death penalty—would one day be see the production himself, telling him, “We all said that we can’t wait to watch it with you.”
She ended the email writing, “Hope you’re doing well, Love you—Michele.”
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Michele also expressed optimism that Williams—who is serving a sentence of life without parole for the 1992 murder of Adonius Collier after initially receiving the death penalty—would one day be see the production himself, telling him, “We all said that we can’t wait to watch it with you.”
She ended the email writing, “Hope you’re doing well, Love you—Michele.”
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In an interview published Jan. 5, Williams, who has maintained his innocence, told NBC News from prison that the Reiners became “an integral part of my life” over the last decade, adding, “They became a part of me.”
And the kinship evidently extended beyond Rob and Michele, as their daughter Romy Reiner—who attended the Dec. 12 event with her parents—told the outlet in a statement published Jan. 5, “He became like family.” (The Reiners were also parents to Jake Reiner, 34, and Rob shared Tracy Reiner, 61, with late ex Penny Marshall.)
“My parents spoke about him with such love,” she continued. “He has taught me more about life and human compassion than anyone I’ve ever met.”
Meanwhile, Nick, 32, faces two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. He has yet to enter a plea and is set to be arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court Jan. 7.
For more details on the investigation into Rob and Michele’s murders, read on.
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner’s Son Nick Reiner Details Struggle With Drugs
Years before Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner’s tragic deaths, their son Nick Reiner shared that he struggled with addiction, even collaborating with his father on the 2015 film Being Charlie about substance abuse.
Nick explained that he had been to rehab 17 times before turning 30.
“I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas,” he told People in 2016. “I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun.”
Two years later, Nick recalled an instance when he “wrecked” his home while high on drugs.
“I went 10 rounds in my guest house,” he shared on the Dopey podcast in 2018. “I got totally spun out on uppers—I think it was coke and something else—and I was up for days on end. I started punching out some things in my guest house.”
Rob Reiner and Nick Reiner Fight at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas Party on Night Before Couple Is Found Dead
The When Harry Met Sally director and his 32-year-old son got into a heated argument at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party on Dec. 13, multiple sources at the event told People. Family friends also confirmed to the L.A. Times that Rob and Nick fought at the holiday celebration, saying that guests noticed Nick acting strangely.
Two sources with knowledge of the situation told NBC News that Nick was being disruptive at the party and interrupting conversations.
Jane Fonda Says Michele & Rob Reiner Were “Happy” Night Before Deaths
Rob Reiner and Wife Michele Singer Reiner Are Found Dead in Their Brentwood, Calif., Home
The day after the Christmas party, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call of a death investigation at a home in Brentwood, Calif., at about 3:40 p.m. on Dec. 14.
“Once inside the residence, officers discovered two victims,” the LAPD said in a press release, “who were subsequently identified as Robert and Michele Reiner.”
The Robbery Homicide Division, Homicide Special Section (RHD/HSS) started an investigation into the circumstances of their deaths.
Deputy Police Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters that many family members would be interviewed, per NBC News. In addition to Nick, the couple are parents to daughter Romy Reiner and son Jake Reiner, and Rob also adopted late ex-wife Penny Marshall‘s daughter Tracy Reiner.
The Reiners’ Manner of Death Revealed as Homicide
It was determined that Rob and Michele did not die of natural causes, with a source close to the Reiner family telling NBC News that the couple appeared to have died from stab wounds.
“As a result of the initial investigation,” the LAPD said in a press release, “it was determined that the Reiners were the victims of homicide.”
Nick Reiner Seen in Gas Station Footage Before Arrest
While police investigated the case, Nick was filmed buying a Gatorade at an ARCO gas station in downtown Los Angeles near USC around 9 p.m. Dec. 14. He was wearing a green jacket, jeans and a ballcap while carrying a red backpack, as seen in footage obtained by MS NOW.
Nick Reiner Is Arrested on Suspicion of Murder
Minutes later, the screenwriter was taken into custody near USC.
The LAPD said their investigation determined that Rob and Michele’s son was “responsible for their deaths.”
“Nick Reiner was located and arrested at approximately 9:15 p.m.,” police said in a press release, adding as of Dec. 15, “He was booked for murder and remains in custody with no bail.”
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Nick Reiner Hires Alan Jackson—Lawyer for Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey—as His Attorney
Two days after Nick was arrested in connection to the murder of his parents, criminal defense attorney Alan Jackson—who previously represented Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Karen Read—confirmed to E! News Dec. 16 that he had been hire as Nick’s attorney in the case.
Nick Reiner’s Courthouse Absence Explained
As officials gathered at a Los Angeles courthouse Dec. 16 to announce formal charges against Nick, his attorney told reporters that the screenwriter “has not been medically cleared” to appear in front of a judge.
“Every inmate has to be medically cleared before they can be transported to court,” he explained to reporters, per MS NOW. “Hopefully, he’ll be cleared tomorrow and we can get him here.”
Nick Reiner Charged With Murder
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on Dec. 16 that his office plans to formally charge Nick with “two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders.”
The D.A. also confirmed Nick will also face a “special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife” on his parents.
He added, “These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.”
Nick was formally charged Dec. 16.
Approximate Time of Death Revealed
Though Rob and Michele’s bodies were discovered around 3 p.m. on Dec. 14, they were likely killed around 12 hours prior, according to authorities.
The district attorney said in a Dec. 16 press release that the murders took place “in approximately the early morning hours of December 14.”
Authorities Share Murder Weapon Details
Nick is accused of “fatally stabbing” his parents, per the D.A. press release on Dec. 16. He allegedly “personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife” in the murders.
Nick Reiner Appears in Court
On Dec. 17, Nick appeared in court for the first time, arriving to the Los Angeles Supreme Court in a blue anti-suicide smock and shackles. He did not enter a plea to his charges during the appearance, instead agreeing to a date of Jan. 7 for the arraignment.
Official Cause of Death Revealed
The medical examiner determined Dec. 17 Rob and Michele each died by “multiple sharp force injuries,” meaning several cuts or stabs from a sharp object.
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