Los Angeles County DA says death penalty will not be sought in Nick Reiner murder case

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the office will not seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, the 33-year-old son of director Rob Reiner and producer Michele Reiner, who has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and a lying-in-wait allegation. Reiner has pleaded not guilty and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole.

Hochman explained that the decision followed a “rigorous review” of aggravating and mitigating factors, including input from the victims’ family, law-enforcement officials and senior prosecutors.

“In deciding whether or not the DA’s office was going to seek the death penalty, we have gone through a rigorous review where we look at the aggravating factors as well as the mitigating factors, where we have spoken to the victims’ family, we have spoken to prosecutors, law enforcement, and worked with the most senior people in the district attorney’s office,” Hochman said.

Deputy public defender Kimberly Greene said the decision reflects Nick Reiner’s serious mental illness and a history of self-medication, describing his situation as a “tragic example” of challenges faced by people with significant mental-health issues.

“Nick has a serious mental illness and a long history of struggling with self-medication. His circumstances are a tragic example of how difficult it can be for people experiencing significant mental health challenges to access and navigate the treatment and support they need,” Greene said.

The judge also ordered that the grand-jury transcripts underlying the indictment remain sealed, citing the surviving siblings’ request to avoid further trauma. Media outlets may petition the court to unseal the documents.

The case follows recent tributes to Rob and Michele Reiner at the 2026 Emmy Awards, where Rob Reiner received a posthumous award and actress Jamie Lee Curtis honored the couple during the “In Memoriam” segment.