Footage Shows Nick Reiner Hours Before Arrest in Murder Case

Newly released video footage has shown Nick Reiner — the son of famed filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner — calmly going about his evening hours before he was taken into custody in connection with their fatal stabbing deaths. The clips show him at a gas station and walking near the area where he was later arrested, offering rare glimpses into his actions shortly before his capture by Los Angeles law enforcement.

Reiner Was Calm Before the Arrest

Surveillance video captured Nick Reiner, 32, inside a gas station convenience store near Exposition Boulevard and Vermont Avenue on the evening of Sunday, December 14, shortly after his parents were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. In the clips, he is seen:

• Wearing a baseball cap and carrying a red backpack
• Walking around the store
• Buying a drink at the register
• Interacting briefly with what appears to be a law enforcement officer before leaving the store

Soon afterward, an LAPD vehicle approached, and Reiner raised his hands as officers moved in to arrest him on suspicion of murdering his parents.

Earlier That Night — Activities and Behavior

Other footage and accounts suggest Nick had been seen walking by a gas station near his parents’ Brentwood home late Saturday night (just before midnight) — hours before the killings were believed to have taken place. In those clips, he appeared calm and unsuspicious, wearing casual clothes and moving through the area on foot before the alleged crime occurred.

Sources across multiple outlets also reported that the night before the murders, Nick was at a holiday Christmas party hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, where he and his father apparently got into a heated argument. Witnesses described Nick as acting “oddly” and possibly erratically before he was later seen leaving the event.

From Scene to Custody

After authorities discovered the bodies of Rob and Michele Reiner on Sunday afternoon, Nick was not immediately at the home. Police tracked him down later that evening in the area near the University of Southern California, where he was arrested without incident. He was held without bail and later charged with two counts of first-degree murder, including a special circumstance due to the use of a deadly weapon.

At the time of his arrest, he was reported to be wearing similar clothing to what appears in gas station footage, including jeans, a jacket, and a hat, and was taken into custody after surrendering to officers with his hands raised.

Background of Reiner and His Situation

Nick Reiner’s legal situation quickly moved into court. He made his first court appearance following the murders, where he was described as wearing a suicide prevention smock while held in custody. His arraignment has been postponed until January 7, 2026, at his lawyer’s request, and he has not entered a plea. The judge denied bail, and the case continues to unfold as prosecutors weigh potential charges and sentencing outcomes.

Reiner has a documented history of struggling with addiction and mental health issues, including past periods of homelessness and treatment attempts. In 2016, he collaborated with his father on Being Charlie, a semi-autobiographical film about his own experiences with rehabilitation and drug dependence. Friends and acquaintances have described him as having a long standing personal struggle with substance abuse.

You might also want to read: Rob Reiner’s Son Arrested as Police Identify Him as Killer