The Missing Murder Weapon! Nick Reiner Hires Prominent Lawyer

By nightfall, the fog had rolled into Brentwood.

Standing outside Rob Reiner’s home for the second night in a row, the scene felt different. Quieter. Darker. The media presence had thinned, but the weight of what happened here hadn’t lifted. People still walked their dogs past the gates. Neighbors slowed down. Some stopped. Everyone seemed to be processing the same unthinkable reality.

Earlier that morning, all eyes were supposed to be on a downtown Los Angeles courtroom.

Nick Reiner—son of actor and director Rob Reiner and photographer and producer Michelle Singer Reiner—was scheduled to appear for his first court hearing, where he was expected to be formally charged in the murders of his parents. Media outlets gathered early. His newly retained attorney, Alan Jackson, was present and ready.

But Nick Reiner never arrived.

What followed raised more questions than answers.

A Court Hearing That Never Happened

Shortly before the scheduled 8:30 a.m. hearing, reporters were informed that proceedings would not take place. The reason: Nick Reiner had not been medically cleared to be transported from jail to court.

That announcement came as a surprise to nearly everyone on scene.

The day prior, TMZ had reported that Reiner was under suicide watch while in custody. While officials have not confirmed whether the suicide watch status was directly connected to the lack of medical clearance, the timing immediately fueled questions about what was happening behind the scenes.

Outside the courthouse, Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, addressed reporters directly.

According to Jackson, every inmate must be medically cleared before transport. Reiner had not been cleared, and no formal court filings had yet been received. The situation, Jackson said, would be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, with the possibility that Reiner could appear in court as early as the following day.

Procedural, on paper.

Significant, in reality.

The Attorney Raising Eyebrows

Alan Jackson’s presence alone became a major point of discussion.

Jackson is one of the most recognizable criminal defense attorneys in the country. His client list includes Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and Karen Read in the high-profile Massachusetts case. His services are famously expensive, and questions quickly surfaced about how Nick Reiner could afford such representation.

Later in the day, retired FBI agent Moren O’Donnell offered context.

While it remains speculation, O’Donnell noted that Reiner could have access to significant assets through family trusts—possibly even separate trusts established by previous generations. If so, those funds could be legally distinct from shared family property and immediately available for legal defense.

It’s also possible, she suggested, that the family estate structure is far more complex than it appears from the outside.

At this point, who is paying for Jackson’s defense remains unknown.

Charges Filed: First-Degree Murder With Special Circumstances

That afternoon, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman held his first press conference since the killings.

Nick Reiner, Hochman confirmed, is being charged with two counts of first-degree murder, along with special circumstances due to multiple victims and the alleged use of a deadly weapon—a knife.

Those charges carry a potential sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. Hochman stated that no decision regarding the death penalty has been made.

He emphasized a key point repeatedly: charges are not evidence.

Any conclusions about motive, mental health, or the sequence of events will be addressed in court—not through rumor or online speculation. Hochman urged the public to rely only on information released by the District Attorney’s Office, LAPD, the coroner, or court proceedings.

Mental health questions, including Reiner’s history with addiction, were deferred to future hearings.

The case, Hochman made clear, will be deliberate and methodical—not rushed.

Activity at the Brentwood House

While legal developments unfolded downtown, activity picked up back at the Reiner residence.

Unlike the previous day—when almost nothing happened—multiple individuals entered and exited the property. Most notably, Alan Jackson himself arrived and went inside the home for roughly 30 minutes before leaving.

There was no visible police escort.

Whether Jackson was retrieving documents, inspecting the scene, or coordinating with the family was not disclosed. At other points throughout the day, additional people came and went. Later, some arrivals were accompanied by law enforcement.

By this stage, authorities had released the house back to the family, who appear to have hired private security. Once a crime scene is officially cleared, the property reverts to private control.

Legally, entry is no longer restricted.

Emotionally, it’s another reminder that life continues—even when it shouldn’t have to.

The Santa Monica Hotel and an Unclear Timeline

One of the most unsettling pieces of the case centers on a hotel room in Santa Monica.

According to TMZ, Nick Reiner checked into the Pier Side Santa Monica hotel around 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning, using his credit card. The stay was booked for one night only.

Reports indicate investigators later found blood inside the room, including on the sheets.

What remains unclear is the timeline.

Authorities have not confirmed when the murders occurred or how much time passed before Reiner arrived at the hotel. It is known that earlier that night, Reiner had been involved in a heated argument with his father at a Christmas party hosted by Conan O’Brien.

Did he leave the party and return home immediately? Did the murders occur before or after midnight? Did he go directly to the hotel afterward?

Those answers have not yet been released.

TMZ reports that hotel staff who saw Reiner at check-in described him as appearing “tweaked out,” but noted no visible injuries, cuts, or blood on his body.

If confirmed, the blood inside the room could become a crucial piece of forensic evidence.

“He Knew What He Did Was Wrong”

During the on-scene interview, Moren O’Donnell addressed what the hotel stay could indicate from an investigative standpoint.

Fleeing the scene, checking into a hotel, attempting to shower, and creating physical distance from the crime are all behaviors that prosecutors often argue demonstrate consciousness of guilt.

In O’Donnell’s assessment, those actions could significantly undermine a defense centered on total incapacitation or lack of awareness.

If blood from both victims—and from Reiner himself—is found in the hotel room, it would likely be powerful evidence for the prosecution.

Whether investigators have recovered the alleged murder weapon remains unknown. Officials confirmed only that a knife is alleged in the charges; details about its recovery will be presented in court.

A Chilling Parallel Case

O’Donnell also pointed to a disturbing comparison.

In Santa Monica, opera singer Jubilant Sykes was stabbed to death by his son under circumstances that some online observers have noted bear similarities to the Reiner case: a troubled adult child, long-term personal struggles, and a fatal confrontation inside the home.

The cases are not legally connected, but the parallels have sparked conversation—particularly given their geographic proximity.

Whether such comparisons play any role in court remains to be seen.