Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty on Monday, February 23, 2026, to two counts of first-degree murder tied to the stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. He entered the plea in Los Angeles Superior Court before Judge Theresa McGonigle. Prosecutors allege the killings happened inside the couple’s Brentwood home in December 2025.
Reiner, 32, appeared with a shaved head and wore a brown jail uniform. He remains in custody at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, and the case moves forward with a public defender after his previous attorney withdrew.
What happened in court Monday
Reiner entered not guilty pleas to two first-degree murder charges. The filings also include special-circumstance allegations, which can raise the maximum penalty in California. In this context, “special circumstances” are factors prosecutors claim make a murder eligible for harsher sentencing rules.
His new lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene, represented him in court. She said he understood that his legal team would change.
The Nick Reiner plea follows a sudden attorney exit
High-profile defense attorney Alan Jackson previously represented Reiner. However, Jackson withdrew in January and said he could not explain the reasons. He described them as ethical and legal limits. Even so, he publicly maintained that Reiner was not guilty under California law.
The shift matters because it changes the defense structure in a case already under intense scrutiny. It also puts the public defender’s office in charge of strategy ahead of key hearings.
What investigators allege about the December killings
Authorities say Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead inside their Brentwood home on December 14, 2025. Reports describe multiple stab wounds. Police arrested Nick Reiner later that night near the University of Southern California.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged him with two counts of first-degree murder. District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said prosecutors are weighing whether to seek the death penalty. Under current California procedure, that decision follows a review of aggravating and mitigating factors.
How the story widened beyond the courtroom
The deaths drew reaction across entertainment and political circles because Rob Reiner was a major filmmaker and public figure. In recent days, Conan O’Brien described seeing the couple at a holiday gathering shortly before their deaths. He said the news left him in shock and struggling to process what happened.
Separately, some reports have raised questions about Reiner’s mental health history. The court has not laid out a defense based on mental competency, and the proceedings remain at an early stage.
What comes next in the case
Reiner remains jailed without bail as the court schedule moves toward the next hearing. A preliminary hearing can determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to proceed to trial. For now, the not guilty plea sets the legal posture: the state must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt as the case advances through Los Angeles Superior Court.