Hidden True Crime - BOMBSHELL Updates - A Scheduled Massage, Obama Dinner, & Powerhouse Defense | Rob and Michele Reiner

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

As first-degree murder charges are filed in the Reiner case, new reporting is complicating the timeline. A missed massage appointment, dinner plans that abruptly vanished, and the moment their daughter Romy was alerted something was wrong all raise new questions about when the killings occurred—and what the family may have known. With special circumstances alleged and the possibility of the death penalty looming, this case is only becoming more complex. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/12/16/us/rob-michele-reiner-death-investigation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Today's press conference changed everything. the Reiner case and in less than 24 hours. Not to mention, we've already heard from the defense attorney taking on the case. The same one that, are you ready for this? Same one that represented Karen Reed. Yeah. We're walking through the legal significance of each update and why this case is only just beginning. But we're also bringing you new reporting tonight, including conflicting accounts of a moment between Rob and Nick Reiner at a Christmas party before the killings. New details about how their daughter, Romi, first learned her parents were dead, as well as a massage therapist who was scheduled at the house

and a possible dinner with the Obamas. These are details that add critical context to what may have happened inside that house, and they raise even more questions about timing, perception, and what the family knew. My name is Lauren Matthias, and this is hidden true crime. Nick Reiner, Rob Reiner, and Michelle Singer-Riner's son, and the alleged killer was expected to appear in court today. We were waiting. However, according to his attorney, that didn't happen because Nick has not yet completed

his mandated medical clearance, which is required before he can be brought before a judge. And we'll talk more about his defense attorney. Yes, that defense attorney and what that can mean for his case in just a bit. But first, let's break down what was actually said during today's. press conference, what officials confirmed and what they carefully avoided answering and why those details matter as this case continues to unfold. So earlier today, the press conference finally answered the biggest question in this case. What charges the DA is moving forward with against Nick Reiner? And the answer is very serious ones. L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hockman announced that

his office is filing two counts of first-degree murder against Nick Reiner for the deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner, and Michelle Singer-Riner. On top of that, they are adding what's called a special circumstance, specifically multiple murders because there are two victims. That alone escalates this case into the most severe category under California law. They're also alleging that Nick personally used a deadly weapon, a knife in the case. killings. And because of all of that combined, the potential punishment here is as serious as it gets life in prison without the possibility of parole or, you're ready for this, the death penalty. The DA made it clear, though, that no decision has yet been made on whether they'll actually

seek the death penalty. My name is Nathan Hockman. I'm the district attorney of Los Angeles County. Today I'm here to announce that our office will be filing charges against Nick Reiner, who was accused of killing his parents, actor-director Rob Reiner, and photographer, producer, Michelle Singer-Riner. These charges will be two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders. He also fesses a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. No decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty. We have requested, and currently, Nick Reiner is being held without bail.

Now, before I, in announcing these charges, I also want to announce that they're just that. They are charges. Charges are not evidence. Evidence is something that we will be presenting in a court of law to meet the standard of proof we meet in every criminal case. which is beyond a reasonable doubt, to 12 jurors who you'll unanimously have to find that we've met that standard to prove the charges we bring to court. This was very much, look,

this is where the process starts moment. As for what happens next, Nick is still going through medical clearance, which is standard for anyone booked into the L.A. County Jail. Once that's done, though, he will be brought into court for arraignment where he'll enter a plea, guilty or not guilty.

And then this case officially moves forward. The DA also acknowledged just how emotionally heavy cases like this are. He talked about how prosecuting family on family murders is some of the hardest work they do because of how intimate and brutal they tend to be. He spoke about Rob Reiner as an iconic figure in film and television and Michelle Singer-Riner as an equally respected photographer and producer calling their deaths beyond tragic. He said his office is committed to holding their killer accountable. And then LAPD Chief McDonald stepped up and gave the law enforcement timeline. According to him, this is the timeline. On December 14th, officers responded to a death investigation at the Reiner home in Brentwood.

And once inside, they found both Rob and Michelle Reiner deceased. Robbery homicide detectives immediately took over, and that investigation led them to Nick Reiner, who was arrested later that same night in the Exposition Park area. This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones, but for our entire city. One detail, they emphasized. The arrest was calm, they say.

It happened in a public area near USC. Nick didn't resist, didn't try to run and was taken into custody without incident. After that, the question started. And honestly, that's where things got interesting because a lot of what reporters asked didn't get answered. When asked why this case qualifies for special circumstances, the DA explained it pretty simply. There are two victims, and under California law, that alone meets the definition of multiple murders. Reporters asked whether Nick was found with evidence on him, whether he said anything to police, or whether he admitted to the crime. Prosecutors shut that down

across the board saying any statements or evidence like that will be handled in court. There were also questions about Nick's history of drug use and whether he may have been under the influence of the time of the killings. It's a question I have. Again, no answers. Same with mental illness. Another question I have, the DA said that if there's evidence of mental health issues, that's something that would come out later through hearings and court filings likely from the defense. Another big question was whether this case could be delayed because of psychological evaluations. The VA did they don't expect anything beyond the usual pace for a first-degree murder case with special circumstances? He was very clear about this part. This won't be fast,

but it will be thorough. There will be a massive amount of evidence turned over, and the defense will take time to go through every detail. Some of the most basic, but crucial details are still unknown, we're still waiting. They would not release the cause of death. They would not release the time of death either. They also couldn't confirm whether the murders happened Saturday night or early Sunday morning. They're still waiting on the corner to narrow that down. We also learned that LAPD didn't initially get a 911 call directly. The fire department responded first. I think that's so interesting. And then they requested police assistance. Once officers arrived and realize a crime had occurred, robbery homicide completely took over.

Reporters asked at this press conference whether other family members helped investigators or provided information that led to Nick's arrest. That was another firm no. Officials said anything like that will be discussed in court, but not publicly. That was another question I had. As for the murder weapon, all they would confirm is that a knife is alleged where it was found or whether it's been recovered was not shared. So we don't know if they even have the murder weapon. One of the final questions asked is how much the family's wishes factor into decisions

like charging and whether to seek the death penalty. I value this question. And the DA said that like in all cases, the family's thoughts and desires are taken into consideration when those decisions are made. In these cases, like any of these cases, we will take the the thoughts and desires of the family into consideration in making our decision. So where we're left after today is this. The charges are now official. The stakes couldn't be higher. And the prosecution is signaling that this will be a long, meticulous case.

What actually happened inside that home and why are questions that for now remain unanswered and will eventually have to be worked out in court. One thing that really stood out, though, for me today during the press conference is the way the district attorney talked about the death penalty as a possibility in this case. And I say this because Los Angeles hasn't executed anyone since 2006, nearly 20 years. So hearing LAPD and the DA's office even mention it as an option immediately caught my attention. They also says something else here that matters, that they will take the family's wishes into account when deciding whether to pursue life without parole or the death penalty. And on the surface, people might assume that a family who lost both parents in such a violent way would automatically want the harshest punishment possible. But this isn't a typical situation.

The alleged killer is their brother, someone who has struggled for years with addiction and potentially mental health issues. the murderer was someone their parents, the victim supported and loved. Most people don't realize how much their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the internet, and then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where ORA comes in.

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But ORA goes beyond data protection. With one app, you get a VPN, antivirus, password manager, spam call protection, dark web monitoring, and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance, all backed by 24-7 U.S.-based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring or just a VPN. ORA gives you all of it together at the same price competitors charge for just one service. Start your free trial today at ORA.com slash remove. Protect yourself now at aura.com slash remove. We still don't know exactly what happened inside that home,

but it's hard not to wonder what Rob and Michelle themselves would have wanted. They spent years trying to get their son help. And while what he's accused of is, unthinkable as parents would they want their child put to death? On top of that, the Reiner family is known to hold very progressive political views, and it's entirely possible they don't support the death penalty at all. So it's interesting and honestly complicated that the DA is even floating that option publicly at this stage. At least it was for me, really interesting. Another detail that raised questions for a lot of people was Nick's arrest.

Officials emphasized that he did not resist, right? That he did not flee and that he was taken into custody without incident. But at the same time, photos surfaced online showing Nick on the ground being detained by officers. LAPD later confirmed those images were briefly posted by their gang and narcotics division before being removed. but by the time there were removed, several media outlets had already published them. The department maintains, though, that the arrest itself was calm, but visually, those images told a slightly different story, which has understandably sparked questions. What's also interesting is where Nick was arrested.

So he was found in the Exposition Park area about 20 miles away from both the Reiner family home and the Santa Monica Hotel where he was reportedly stained. So how did he get all the way over there? That's something we still don't have answers to. And then there's the hotel. Multiple outlets are now reporting that around 4 a.m. Sunday morning, Nick checked into the Pearside Hotel in Santa Monica using his credit card. And even though he lived at the family home, he wasn't there when his sister Romney made

the discovery later that day. The reservation for the hotel was only for one night. And he never formally checked out. When hotel staff entered the room later that morning, the windows were covered. up with bed sheets. Staff reportedly also found the shower full of blood, along with blood on the bed. And if that information holds up, it raises some huge questions for the defense. If Nick really was covered in blood, how will his legal team explain that? Are they going to argue self-defense, a mental health crisis, something else entirely? Because that detail alone could

become a major focal point once this case gets into court. And that brings us now to the defense. Another major development here is who's stepping in to represent Nick Reiner. And it is not a low profile name. Nick's attorney is Alan Jackson, a high power defense lawyer known for taking on some of the most controversial cases in the country. Jackson has become almost synonymous with high stakes legal battles where public opinion is already firmly against his client. Most recently, he's been one of the key attorneys representing Karen Reed, the Massachusetts woman accused in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, a case that has drawn national attention because of allegations of police misconduct and corruption. Before that, Jackson was also

part of Harvey Weinstein's defense team in Los Angeles. One of the most scrutinized criminal, cases of the last decade. Love him or hate him, Alan Jackson has a reputation for aggressively challenging investigators tearing apart timelines forcing prosecutors to prove every single detail of their case.

And now he's bringing that same approach to Nick Reiner's defense. And that tells us something. This is not going to be a quiet case. With first-degree murder charges and special circumstances on the table, this is shaping up to be a long complex and hard-fought legal battle. And we're already seeing that play out. So Jackson,

get this, was recently spotted visiting the Reiner home itself. So the crime scene. The Reiner home is the crime scene. After coming straight from the courthouse, that's where he went. And as we now know, Nick wasn't present because he still hadn't received medical clearance to appear in court. But video shows Jackson walking down the family street, surrounded by media, carrying a file and gesturing to his team almost as of laying out next steps right there on the sidewalk. It was a very clear signal from Jackson. The defense is already digging in. And finally, we're learning more about the alleged argument that may have preceded all of this.

Sources are saying that at a Christmas party held at Conan O'Brien's home, Nick's parents were upset and embarrassed by his behavior and expressed concern about his mental health. One source claims Nick interrupted a price. conversation involving comedian Bill Hader. And when Bill Hater told him that the conversation was private, Nick reportedly paused, stared, and then stormed off. Now, as of now, Hater has declined to comment on what happened. Another source said Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, and kept asking people if they were famous. Several other guests said they were worried about Nick and that he looked jittery and off kilter. One person told him,

the New York Times that Rob had, quote, rebuked his son telling him that his behavior was inappropriate for a guest in someone else's home, end quote. But according also, again, to the New York Times, a different person close to the family, quote, was not in a position to dispute that account, but said that Rob and Nick Reiner did not have a heated argument and that the episode was being overblown. The intensity of any conversation that might have taken place between father and son may have been misinterpreted. He took issue with news accounts that suggested the family might have left the party early because of the son's behavior, end quote. So an interesting contradiction. So whether any of these moments end up being relevant to the case or not, it does

add another layer to what already appears to be a deeply emotional, complicated situation, one that's far from being fully understood. And just tonight, were learning even more breaking news, including how Romi learned her parents were dead. A source who the New York Times is keeping confidential told journalists at the outlet that a massage therapist was scheduled to come to the home for a scheduled appointment but was not able to get in, and that was when their daughter Romi was alerted. And that is when she found her father dead inside the house. She then apparently fled the home before ever seen her mother was also.

inside. It was her roommate who made the call for help, according to the New York Times, and then paramedics told her that her mother was also found dead inside the family home. And according to this source to the Times, the family believes Rob had been dead for at least 12 hours before Romi made that horrific discovery. Romney allegedly told paramedics that her brother lived on the property but made no mention of her brother being a possible suspect in the murders due police. And I mean, that would make sense. It is hard to imagine someone you love so much doing something so horrific to the people you both love so much. According to the New York Times, Michelle and Robb also allegedly had plans for dinner with a few people and that few people included Michelle and Barack Obama

that evening. You may remember that former President Barack Obama tweeted about Rob and Michelle's deaths after the horrific discovery was made. So that is where things stand right now, 24 hours later. We have charges filed. We have a defense team already moving quickly. And we have a lot of questions that still don't have answers. But we don't have yet, though, still is a full story of what actually happened. And that is going to take some time, clearly. At the center of all of this, are Rob and Michelle Reiner two people who lost their lives in a way no family ever expects.

And wrapped around that is a situation that's incredibly complicated because this isn't just a criminal case. This is a family tragedy involving addiction, mental health, and years of history that were really only starting to really get a glimpse into.

As this case moves forward, more will come out through court hearings, evidence, and testimony. And my co-host, criminal psychologist, Dr. John Matthias, is preparing to weigh in as well. He's given some initial thoughts already over on Patreon. Patreon.com slash hidden true crime where you can find all of our bonus additional episodes there. We posted his initial thoughts there this morning before the press conference. And we will be sharing more soon here.

But we'll keep following every development. And as soon as there are more updates, I'll bring them to you because this isn't a case where clarity comes overnight and we'll continue walking through everything together right here at Hidden True Crime. Most people don't realize how much their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions,

pulling details about you from public records and the internet, and then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where ORA comes in.

ORA actively removes your data from broker's sites and keeps it off. They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web. But ORA goes beyond data protection. With one app, you get a VPN, antivirus, password manager, spam call protection, dark web monitoring, and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance, all backed by 24-7 U.S.-based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring, or just a VPN. ORA gives you all of it, together, at the same price competitors charge for just one. one service. Start your free trial today atora.com slash remove. Protect yourself now at

ora.com slash remove. Most people don't realize how much their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the internet, and then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where ORA comes. That's where ORA comes. in, ORA actively removes your data from broker's sites and keeps it off. They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web. But ORA goes beyond data protection. With one app, you get a VPN, antivirus, password manager, spam call protection,

dark web monitoring, and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance, all backed by 24-7 U.S.-based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring, or just a VPN. Again, ORA gives you all of it, together, at the same price competitors charge for just one service. Start your free trial today atora.com slash remove. Protect yourself now atora.com slash remove.