Nick Reiner may have launched a “surprise attack” on his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, after eerily “watching and waiting” to make his move.
Following Nick’s new “lying in wait” charge, revealed in court documents, celebrity criminal defense attorney Seth J. Zuckerman (who is not directly involved in the case) explained what this might mean for Nick, who is accused of killing his parents.
“‘Lying in wait’ is a legal-specific action where you concealed the purpose, you waited and you launched a surprise attack,” Zuckerman explained, adding that Rob and Michele may have been “unaware that this was going to happen” and that Nick could have been “watching and waiting.”
This differs from premeditated murder, which only requires “proof of active planning and deliberation,” or thinking out committing an act of murder, Zuckerman explained.
The Zuckerman Legal Group founder said he believes there must be some sort of evidence that may prove there was a waiting period before Nick allegedly made his move.
“There must be some evidence here, whether it’s surveillance footage, text messages, witness testimony, a diary entry, or something that shows that he was lying and waiting for any plans to do this,” Zuckerman said.
The new charge also creates another hurdle for the defense to argue insanity, he noted, as Nick has battled drug addiction and mental health issues for years.
“I’m assuming they were anticipating a psychiatric defense,” Zuckerman said. “And the ‘lying in wait’ certainly impacts that because it proves that he didn’t snap, right? That he intended to do this, that he ambushed them, that he was waiting for them to come home and he did a surprise attack.”
“This is direct evidence of the defendant’s state of mind,” he added.
The former New York City prosecutor also pointed out that the “lying in wait” charge could result in harsher sentencing.
“It makes it death penalty eligible or eligibility for life without parole,” Zuckerman said, noting that there is currently a moratorium on the death penalty in California under Gov. Gavin Newsom.
On Wednesday, a newly unsealed grand jury indictment revealed that Nick was charged with the murder of his parents, with a special circumstance allegation that the defendant “committed the murders by means of ‘lying in wait.’”
“This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a press release.
“We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice,” he added.
Nick, 32, pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in February. He also faces a special allegation that he “personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife,” the press release states.
It remains unclear whether Nick will pursue an insanity defense. He is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 15.
Nick was accused of fatally stabbing his parents at their Brentwood, California, home on Dec. 14, 2025.
The “Princess Bride” director was 78 and Michele was 70.
Nick fled the scene but was arrested later in the evening.
If convicted, he faces either the death penalty or life in state prison without the possibility of parole.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
