Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of acclaimed director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, has been removed from suicide watch at the Los Angeles jail where he awaits arraignment on murder charges.
Reiner is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles on two counts of first-degree murder. Law enforcement sources confirmed Monday that jail officials no longer deem him at imminent risk of self-harm.
“Reiner is currently off suicide watch, but he remains in High Observation Housing,” a sheriff’s department source told People magazine. “He’s still housed alone and monitored every 15 minutes.”
From High Supervision to Close Observation
Reiner was initially placed under heightened supervision when he entered custody on Dec. 15. That included wearing a suicide-prevention smock, a protective garment common in jails for inmates considered a danger to themselves.
The protective vest has since been removed, but Reiner is still kept in High Observation Housing, where deputies escort him whenever he leaves his cell. He eats alone and is monitored frequently under standard procedures.
The decision to take him off suicide watch follows a period without reported self-harm attempts, according to sources familiar with his custody status. “He has not experienced significant issues with eating or sleeping,” the sheriff’s source added.
At his first court appearance in December, Reiner did not enter a plea. His attorney, Alan Jackson, described the case as “a devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family.” Reiner spoke only to agree to a continued arraignment date of Jan. 7.
Tragedy in Brentwood
Rob Reiner, 78, the director behind classics such as The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found dead in their upscale Brentwood home on Dec. 14, law enforcement officials said.
Authorities have said the couple died from multiple sharp-force injuries, and detectives arrested Nick Reiner later that same day near the University of Southern California.
Though officials have not revealed a motive, sources have said Reiner had a documented history of mental health struggles, including treatment for schizophrenia and past drug addiction.
The couple’s daughter, Romy Reiner, discovered her parents’ bodies and called 911, according to law enforcement sources. Jake and Romy Reiner released a statement saying their loss has been “unimaginable,” asking for privacy as the family mourns.
Prosecutors have filed special allegations in the case, including use of a deadly weapon, making Reiner potentially eligible for life without parole or the death penalty if convicted.
Reiner’s arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, where the charges will be formally addressed. Jail officials, family members and legal representatives have all declined additional comment beyond court filings and brief statements.