Fresh details have emerged about Nick Reiner’s mental health in the years leading up to the criminal case involving the deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
According to a report published by The New York Times on Thursday, Jan. 15, court records show that Reiner was placed under a mental health conservatorship beginning in 2020. Reports indicate that Nick Reiner was placed under a mental health conservatorship in 2020, a legal arrangement that remained in effect until 2021. The newspaper cited confirmation from a clerk at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Officials with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, where Reiner’s current attorney Kimberly Greene is employed, declined to comment when contacted by USA TODAY.
The Times also reported comments from Steven Baer, the licensed fiduciary who was appointed as Reiner’s conservator during that period. Baer described mental illness as “an epidemic that is widely misunderstood,” underscoring the broader challenges surrounding psychiatric care and public perception.
Charges and Potential Sentence
Reiner faces two counts of first-degree murder, along with a special-circumstance allegation, in connection with the fatal stabbing of his parents at their Brentwood, Los Angeles, home in the early hours of Dec. 14. Prosecutors have said that if he is convicted, he could receive the death penalty or a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Arraignment Delayed After Change in Legal Counsel
Reiner appeared in court on Jan. 7 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, where he was scheduled to be arraigned. However, proceedings were postponed after his then-attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case. The arraignment has since been rescheduled for Feb. 23, with Greene formally taking over his defense.
Speaking later on Hot Mics with Billy Bush, Jackson rejected speculation that financial issues prompted his departure. He said he continues to support Reiner and maintains his belief that his former client is not guilty.
“Something changed regarding my team’s ability to continue the representation,” Jackson said during the interview. “But I don’t want anyone jumping to conclusions about why that happened.”
Reports of Schizophrenia Treatment
Additional reporting has focused on Reiner’s psychiatric history. In December, the Los Angeles Times reported that he had previously been prescribed medication for schizophrenia. NBC News later added that Reiner was undergoing treatment for a serious psychiatric disorder at the time of his parents’ deaths, following a diagnosis made several years earlier.
According to NBC News, his medication regimen had been changed or adjusted shortly before the incident. However, key details — including the specific medication involved and the precise timing of those changes — have not been made public.
