Rob Reiner’s Son Nick Remains on Suicide Watch and Is in Solitary Confinement After Murder Charges (Exclusive) By Danielle Bacher and Madison E. Goldberg 10

Behind the walls of Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles, Nick Reiner’s world has narrowed to a single cell. When he entered the jail system on the morning of Dec. 15, the machinery of custody moved faster than usual.

He remains on suicide watch and is currently being held in solitary confinement, where he is required to wear a blue suicide-prevention smock at all times, a police source exclusively confirmed to PEOPLE.

At 32, Reiner now faces  two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner 78 and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, with a special allegation of using a knife. The couple were found dead inside their Brentwood, Los Angeles, home on Dec. 14.

According to The New York Times, their daughter Romy entered the Los Angeles home after receiving a call from a massage therapist who was unable to access the property. After she arrived at the home and discovered her father’s body, Romy allegedly “fled” the home and was later informed by a paramedic that her mother Michele was also dead inside, the outlet reported.

By the time law enforcement began piecing together what had happened, the scope of the tragedy was already clear. The county medical examiner’s office confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple had died of “multiple sharp force injuries.”

They were killed and found in their bedroom on Sunday, a source close to the investigation previously told PEOPLE. 

Nick is not permitted to communicate with anyone other than his legal counsel and authorized jail personnel, according to the police source. He is only allowed to leave his cell for court appearances or medical reasons, and must be escorted by a sergeant at all times. He is monitored with a video camera that is attached to his escorting officer.

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“This is important so that no one compromises this high-profile case, and so that no civilian or inmate can ask him questions, such as why he killed his parents,” the same police source tells PEOPLE.

Reiner remains alone in his cell at all times. The source claims Nick’s days are rigidly controlled, his movements limited and his contact with the outside world effectively non-existent. He is served three meals a day in solitary confinement, his food tray delivered directly to the cell.

Doctors and mental health professionals have determined that Nick has a “mental disability,” the officer added.

“When he arrived at the jail on Dec. 15, mental health staff evaluated him and determined he was at risk,” says the officer. “He will remain on suicide watch until a doctor clears him, which could take a long time depending on his mental health.”

Nick entered the jail at 8:54 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, and does not currently have phone privileges. “We can’t put him at risk since he has mental health struggles, and no visitors are allowed,” the police source continued.

What followed was an unusually rapid intake process — one that underscored the gravity and visibility of the case. The officer confirmed to PEOPLE that Nick was processed faster than most inmates.“There was no delay — he was processed and housed in less than four hours from the moment he entered. Since then, he has been escorted at all times by a sergeant with a video camera,” says the source.

By noon that same day, Nick had already completed intake and had been evaluated by medical staff for both an infection screening and a psychological assessment. “This process usually takes about 24 hours for an inmate,” the source says. “In this case, it was expedited because it’s a high-profile case and they wanted it done as quickly as possible. Less than 4 hours is extremely fast here.”

Inside the facility, Reiner’s cell is monitored at all hours. “He was medically evaluated and cleared by the medical staff, including the on-site doctor and deemed competent enough to attend court on Wednesday,” the officer says. “If he were not in the right mental state, he would not have been allowed to go. That means he is considered mentally sound enough to attend proceedings.”

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“While he is on suicide watch, a supervisor checks on him every 15 minutes to ensure his safety,” the source added. “He is currently struggling with mental health concerns, but he has not attempted self-harm. He remains alone in his cell and communicates very little.”

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, Reiner made his first appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court. Wearing a blue anti-suicide smock and shackles, he sat behind plexiglass just to the left of Judge Theresa McGonigle, staring straight ahead, as his attorney, Alan Jackson, declined to enter a plea on his behalf.

When the judge asked if Nick was okay waiving his right to a speedy arraignment, Nick replied, “Yes, your honor,” before being led out of the room through a side door by security officers.

After the hearing, which lasted roughly five minutes, Jackson faced a bank of television cameras outside the courthouse and explained the rescheduling, saying there were “very complex and serious issues associated with this case” that needed time to be examined. He asked the media and public not to “rush to judgment,” and then he left without taking any questions.

Nathan J. Hochman, the Los Angeles County district attorney, is also pursuing a murder conviction with “special circumstances,” a designation that could make Nick eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

His arraignment has been scheduled for Jan. 7, 2026.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.