Nick Reiner, accused of murdering his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has been refused access to the $1.5 million US trust fund he sought for his legal defense. In a June filing, Reiner had been trying to claim allegedly unpaid funds from a trust established by his parents in 1993.
Trustees, as per court documents obtained by CBC News, denied Reiner’s fund request, invoking the “slayer statute” in California law. This statute prohibits individuals who have “feloniously and intentionally” killed someone from inheriting money, property, or trusts from the deceased.
Rob Reiner, a renowned director and actor, and Michele, a photographer and producer, were fatally stabbed in their California residence on December 14, 2025. Their son Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested hours later, indicted on murder charges on July 20, and has pleaded not guilty.
A Los Angeles County grand jury indictment, unsealed recently, alleges that Reiner lay in wait before attacking his parents, potentially facing the death penalty due to this and other circumstances. District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet decided on seeking the death penalty.
Reiner is set for a pretrial hearing in September, represented by public defender Kimberly Greene. The June filing mentioned that besides the main family trust fund, smaller individual trust funds were set up for the Reiner children. Nick Reiner was supposed to receive half of his fund at 30 and the remainder at 35, but he claimed in a petition that he never received the funds due to him at 30.
The trust fund, with assets totaling at least $1.5 million US, has been at the center of legal battles. High-profile attorney Alan Jackson initially represented Reiner but left abruptly, with siblings Jake and Romy Reiner initially agreeing to cover Nick’s legal fees before changing their minds.
Legal representatives concluded that the fund could not be accessed until the outcome of Reiner’s criminal case is clear, considering the “slayer statute” principles. Despite eight months passing since the tragedy, many details remain undisclosed, and authorities have not disclosed any motives behind the killings.
Jake Reiner, the eldest son, shared about the ordeal of losing his parents and the attention on the case involving his brother. Rob Reiner’s esteemed legacy in the film industry includes directing classics like “The Princess Bride” and “Stand By Me,” while his marriage to Michele, whom he met during the filming of “When Harry Met Sally,” lasted 36 years.