{"id":42269,"date":"2026-08-13T03:31:49","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T22:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=42269"},"modified":"2026-08-13T03:31:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T22:31:49","slug":"rob-reiners-son-nick-may-have-launched-surprise-attack-on-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=42269","title":{"rendered":"Rob Reiner&#8217;s son Nick may have launched &#8216;surprise attack&#8217; on parents"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2026%2F08%2F137199472.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Nick Reiner may have launched a \u201csurprise attack\u201d on his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, after eerily \u201cwatching and waiting\u201d to make his move.<\/p>\n<p>Following <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/08\/12\/celebrity-news\/nick-reiner-accused-of-planning-murders-of-parents-rob-and-michele-in-new-indictment\/\">Nick\u2019s new \u201clying in wait\u201d charge<\/a>, 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2025\/12\/16\/celebrity-news\/rob-reiners-son-nick-officially-charged-with-2-counts-of-first-degree-murder-in-stabbing-death-of-parents\/\">accused of killing his parents<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2018Lying in wait\u2019 is a legal-specific action where you concealed the purpose, you waited and you launched a surprise attack,\u201d Zuckerman explained, adding that Rob and Michele may have been \u201cunaware that this was going to happen\u201d and that Nick could have been \u201cwatching and waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Nick Reiner (pictured above in court in February) may have watched and waited for his parents before launching a \u201csurprise attack,\u201d according to Seth J. Zuckerman, a lawyer not directly involved in the case. <span class=\"credit\">via REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Nick is accused of stabbing Rob and Michele Reiner (pictured together above) at their Brentwood, California, home in December 2025. <span class=\"credit\">@michelereiner\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>This differs from premeditated murder, which only requires \u201cproof of active planning and deliberation,\u201d or thinking out committing an act of murder, Zuckerman explained.<\/p>\n<p>The Zuckerman\u00a0Legal 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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"block-a3621735-5d7a-4c78-ae57-1bd405b0aa67\">\u201cThere must be some evidence here, whether it\u2019s 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,\u201d Zuckerman said.<\/p>\n<p>The new charge also creates another hurdle for the defense to argue insanity, he noted, as Nick has<a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2025\/12\/15\/celebrity-news\/inside-rob-reiners-son-nicks-drug-addiction-battle-years-before-parents-fatal-stabbing\/\"> battled drug addiction <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2025\/12\/19\/celebrity-news\/nick-reiner-diagnosed-with-schizophrenia-weeks-before-murders-medication-made-him-erratic-and-dangerous\/\">mental health issues<\/a> for years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m assuming they were anticipating a psychiatric defense,\u201d Zuckerman said. \u201cAnd the \u2018lying in wait\u2019 certainly impacts that because it proves that he didn\u2019t 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.\u201d <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Nick (seen here in February) has been charged with \u201clying in wait.\u201d  <span class=\"credit\">POOL\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Nick (pictured here) is now facing the death penalty or life without parole due to this heightened charge. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThis is direct evidence of the defendant\u2019s state of mind,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n<p>The former New York City prosecutor also pointed out that the \u201clying in wait\u201d charge could result in harsher sentencing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt makes it death penalty eligible or eligibility for life without parole,\u201d Zuckerman said, noting that there is currently a <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2019\/03\/12\/california-governor-will-halt-all-executions-in-state\/\">moratorium on the death penalty in California<\/a> under Gov. Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201ccommitted the murders by means of \u2018lying in wait.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Zuckerman, a celebrity criminal defense attorney, said he believes there could be evidence showing Nick (seen here) had waited before allegedly stabbing his parents. <span class=\"credit\">Facebook \/ Nick Reiner<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Rob and Michelle shared two other children (seen above with Nick in a family photo). <span class=\"credit\">@michelereiner\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Page Six Daily\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThis was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing,\u201d Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman <a href=\"https:\/\/da.lacounty.gov\/media\/news\/nick-reiner-indicted-murder-charges-slaying-parents-rob-and-michele-reiner-brentwood\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said in a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe 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,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n<p>Nick, 32, <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/02\/23\/celebrity-news\/rob-reiners-son-nick-pleads-not-guilty-in-court-for-double-murder\/\">pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder<\/a> in February. He also faces a special allegation that he \u201cpersonally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife,\u201d the press release states.<\/p>\n<p>It remains unclear whether Nick will pursue an\u00a0insanity\u00a0defense. He is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 15.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The director and the photographer (seen above with their kids) were found stabbed to death last December. He was 78 and she was 70. <span class=\"credit\">michelereiner\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Nick (seen here with his dad in 2016) previously pleaded not guilty to murdering his parents. <span class=\"credit\">FilmMagic<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Nick <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2025\/12\/15\/celebrity-news\/see-the-dramatic-moment-rob-reiners-son-nick-was-arrested-for-parents-murder\/\">was accused<\/a> of<a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2025\/12\/14\/celebrity-news\/two-found-dead-at-director-rob-reiners-home-confirmed-by-los-angeles-police\/\"> fatally stabbing his parents<\/a> at their Brentwood, California, home on Dec. 14, 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cPrincess Bride\u201d director was 78 and Michele was 70.<\/p>\n<p>Nick fled the scene but was arrested later in the evening.<\/p>\n<p>If convicted, he faces either the death penalty or life in state prison without the possibility of parole.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA\u2019s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nick Reiner may have launched a \u201csurprise attack\u201d on his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, after eerily \u201cwatching and waiting\u201d to make his move. Following Nick\u2019s new \u201clying in wait\u201d 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&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42270,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/08\/137199472.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42269"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42269\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}