Following the arrest of Nick Reiner for the alleged murder of his parents, acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, sources close to the family are revealing a long history of addiction and volatile behaviour.
The details, largely absent from initial reports, paint a complex picture of the 32-year-old’s life, which stands in stark contrast to the celebrated careers of his father and grandfather, Carl Reiner. Investigators are now piecing together a timeline that includes years of personal turmoil leading up to the deaths.
A History of Addiction and Resentment
A news publication site reported a possible motive for why the 32-year-old may have allegedly killed his parents.
The publication stated that Nick has been battling drug addiction for most of his life. A source also claimed that Nick has ‘resented’ his dad for many years because he was a successful and beloved figure in his field. Nick, on the other hand, struggled to make a name for himself in the industry.
Nick’s grandfather, Carl Reiner, was also one of the biggest names in the industry.
Erratic Behaviour Reported Before Murders
Meanwhile, other details about Nick have also been revealed via Us Weekly. A source told the magazine that he joined his parents at Conan O’Brien’s party the night before the murders.
The source claimed that Nick behaved erratically the entire time he was at the party. He reportedly came up to different guests to ask if they were famous. He later left the gathering by himself.
TMZ also revealed that guests heard a very loud argument at the party, reportedly involving the Reiners. Shortly after the incident, Rob and Michele went back home, and they were later found dead by their daughter, Romy Reiner. The 28-year-old discovered her parents’ lifeless bodies at home. She immediately called the authorities, telling them that a relative should be investigated as a suspect because he was dangerous.
Public Admissions of Past Struggles
Rob has spoken candidly about Nick’s battles with addiction when he was still alive. He previously revealed that these struggles caused a major dent in their family’s relationship.
‘If your kid is going through rough times, [as] the parent, your main job is to keep your child safe. So I would do anything. At the end of the day, I know my child better than an expert does, and I probably should have trusted my own instinct, and that’s one of the things I did learn about the whole experience,’ Rob said.
Nick hasn’t shied away from talking about his issues. He previously recounted the time he first went to rehab at the age of 15 and later becoming homeless.
‘I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas… It was not fun,’ Nick told People in 2016. ‘If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programmes they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless.’
Nick added that living on the streets for many years could have killed him. ‘When I was out there, I could’ve died. It’s all luck. There were a lot of dark years there,’ he said.
‘When I was out there, I could’ve died. It’s all luck. There were a lot of dark years there,’ he said.
Nick was arrested following the incident, and his bail was set at $4 million.
Originally published on IBTimes UK
