Hidden True Crime - NEW BOMBSHELLS… Schizophrenia, Med Changes & the Night Everything Snapped | Rob and Michele Reiner

Episode Date: December 21, 2025

New developments in the Reiner case are forcing a far more complicated conversation. Emerging details about a schizophrenia diagnosis, recent medication changes, escalating addiction, and growing fear inside the home suggest this tragedy may have been unfolding in plain sight. From disturbing warnings at a Hollywood Christmas party to a system that couldn’t intervene before it was too late, this episode examines how missed red flags, severe mental illness, and parental desperation collided with devastating consequences—raising questions that are as emotional as they are legal, and reshaping how this case may ultimately be understood. Sponsor: Get 50% off LifeMD's Weight Management Program plus free shipping during their Holiday and New Year's Sale—get started at https://lifemd.com/HIDDEN 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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atora.com slash remove. The Reiner case is becoming a devastating study and how tragedy can unfold in plain sight. Today's update is a difficult one. New details are emerging about mental illness and missed warning signs. New information that could fundamentally change how this case is viewed, not just legally, but emotionally. What we're learning now adds layers that weren't visible before, and they complicate a story that already felt impossible to comprehend. Last night, my husband, Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, weighed in on the Rob Reiner and Michelle Sussieckyne. a Reiner case based on what we knew so far. And since then, just since you heard from us last night, a lot of new information has come out about Nick Reiner, the night leading up to the

murders of his parents and what was happening behind the scenes in the weeks before everything unraveled. We're now learning about a schizophrenia diagnosis, medication changes, growing fear inside the Reiner home, and the party, that Christmas party, that in hindsight may have been the one last warning before everything went wrong. Lauren Matthias, and this is hidden true crime. So as we now know, Nick Reiner remains in custody without bail and is being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michelle Reiner. Both Rob and Michelle were found stabbed to death inside their Brentwood home on Sunday, December 14th. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has officially ruled both deaths,

homicides caused by multiple sharp force injuries. We now know that their bodies were found in their master bedroom and we are learning that their bodies were released back to the family on Friday, December 19th. But a full coroner's report is not expected for up to 90 days. Nick is currently on watch and his arraignment has been pushed back until early January. He has waived his right to a speedy arraignment. So no plea yet, whether guilty or not guilty. And earlier this week, footage of Nick Reiner from about 10 years ago surfaced in a nearly decade old, nine years-ish YouTube clip that he put on his own channel where he feigns doing drugs and jokingly threatens a dog. The 2016 video presents him as a mock music mogul named D.D. David walking

around a wealthy neighborhood while an interviewer asks him questions, sort of like in a mockumentary style. And at one point, his younger sister Romi, appears in the six-minute video while a dog barks in the background, and Nick jokes, I'm going to go fucking kill that fucking dog, end quote. He's also shown smoking and pretending to snort white powder arranged to look like drugs with an off-camera voice asking, quote, you bought heroin off a transvestite? And so throughout the clip, Nick riffs on various absurd questions and interacts with neighbors in his exaggerated persona. At one point, he wraps, quote,

and I don't even care if anyone calls me a Sally because I'm a snail and I'm never going to fucking fail. And you know, you're going to have to bail me out of jail, end quote. She moved to Patagonia. What was it? I guess it could have been pretty awkward when PETA approached you about joining their team. I'm going to go kill that fucking dog.

The source described him as, creative and misguided, noting that growing up around Hollywood A-Lister shaped his sense of entitlement. And according to the source, the hardest thing for Nick was following through on his ideas, he would often abandon anything that he didn't find exciting, according to source. Many people had been questioning whether that footage was proof of some potential mental health issues, given the strangeness in the content and how it sort of led in all sorts of directions or if it was just maybe a young man who was a little bit odd per se. That mental health question seems, though, now to be being answered right now. One of the most significant updates

in this case is confirmation from multiple sources that Nick Reiner had been diagnosed with schizophrenia prior to the killings. According to insiders with firsthand knowledge to outlet TMZ, Nick had been under the care of a psychiatrist and was actively receiving treatment for serious mental illness. Sources say doctors were in the process of adjusting his medications in the three to four weeks leading up to the murders attempting to stabilize him but were unsuccessful. Several people now close to the situation described Nick's behavior during this period as alarming, erratic, and dangerous.

One source said that after a medication change, Nick was, quote, out of his head. And another said the medication appeared to worsen his instability rather than improve it, It's also being reported that Nick's ongoing substance abuse significantly worsened his schizophrenia, which is something medical professionals have repeatedly warned can happen when those two issues intersect. As we've been learning, Nick Reiner's struggle with addiction is not new,

but the scope of it is staggering. Since the age of 15, as a young teen, Nick has reportedly been in rehab more than 18 times. His substance use included heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. And despite access, of course, to elite facilities, top doctors, and immense financial resources from his family, nothing seemed to stick. At times, Nick reportedly chose homelessness over staying in treatment. He resisted strict rehab rules and felt residential treatments stripped him of his autonomy. Some professionals familiar with cases like Nick's say this is not uncommon, especially for patients who feel confined, controlled, or punished rather than treated.

Nick had recently been receiving care, according to sources at a high-end Los Angeles rehab facility specializing in both mental illness and substance abuse, a facility reportedly frequented by wealthy and influential families and costing around $70,000 a month. And yet, even there, doctors were struggling to stabilize him. One addiction treatment expert later described Nick as a, quote, treatment provider's worst nightmare. An adult patient with schizophrenia, severe addiction, repeated relapses, and no legal mechanism for parents to force him to stay in care. And that's a key point. Nick was an adult. No matter how scared Rob and Michelle were, they legally could not make him stay in treatment. He was their child, but he was an adult. And now we need to talk about the party, the Christmas party, the one at comedian Conan O'Brien's home, because nearly every other. update circles back to this Christmas party. A variety of voices saying different things happen. But multiple sources say Nick and his parents got into a heated escalating argument at the party,

particularly between Nick and Rob. When it's to say the argument became loud, it became intense. It was deeply uncomfortable for many of the guests at this party. At least one person reportedly suggested calling the police, and another said that Nick should be placed on a psychiatric hold. But according to insiders, Conan O'Brien stepped in and shut that down, telling guests, it was his house, his party, and he wasn't calling the police. Several guests later said that they were deeply disturbed by Nick's behavior that night. Some described him as erratic, others is frightening. Some said he was acting creepy, approaching guests, freaking everyone out is another quote from someone at the party. Bill Hader, comedian Bill Hader was reportedly among the guests who noticed

something was off. Perhaps the most haunting detail to come out of this case is what Rob Reiner allegedly told people that night. Multiple sources said Rob confided in either a friend or friends at the party that he was afraid of his son. One source claims Rob said, words to the effect of, quote, I'm petrified of Nick. I never thought I would say this, but I think my own son could hurt me. Another guest later recalled those words at a gathering after Rob and Michelle's deaths leaving people in tears. So if accurate, it paints a devastating picture of parents who knew something was very wrong, who were scared, but who were also trapped by the limits of the system and the reality of having an adult child in crisis.

Well, Nick's attorney, high-profile criminal defense lawyer Alan Jackson, just coming off the Cair and Reed case, while he has not publicly commented multiple outlets report that the defense is expected to pursue a not guilty by reason of insanity plea. And honestly, this makes sense. TMZ and other outlets are saying that this case may ultimately hinge on Nick's schizophrenia diagnosis. his medication changes and his mental state at the time of the killings. Experts say this could become a perfect storm defense,

including severe mental illness, substance abuse, medication, instability, and documented erratic behavior leading up to the crime, the crime of murdering both of his parents. That doesn't necessarily mean the defense will succeed. What it does mean is this case is likely going to be long. It's going to be complex. it will be deeply controversial. The situation is turning out to be much more than a murder case.

It is becoming a case about warning signs, missed opportunities, parental fear, and what happens when severe mental illness and addiction collide with a system that often cannot or will not intervene until it's too late. The holidays can quietly throw everything off. Routines change, schedules get packed, and the pressure to look and fill your best can be overwhelming for many who see more friends and family than usual. I was talking to someone who said that she does her best when she has a clear plan in place,

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dose. Read all safety information at lifemd.com slash weight management. Program price only medication costs not included. So now that there is discussion of an actual diagnosis, let's talk a little bit more about schizophrenia. This diagnosis will undoubtedly be at the center of nearly every conversation surrounding what happened in this case going forward. And it is also one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses. Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects how a person processes reality. How a person processes reality. Think about that. It changes the way that someone thinks, changes the way they perceive the world the way they understand what's happening around them. This isn't about mood swings or a personality

flaw. It is not something a person can just will themselves out of. For many people, schizophrenia means their brain is giving them information that feels absolutely real, even when it is not real. That disconnect from reality is what makes this illness so dangerous in certain situations. People with schizophrenia can experience hallucinations, often hearing voices that others cannot hear. They can develop delusions, beliefs that feel unshakably true to them, even when there is no evidence to support them. Thoughts can become disorganized or jump rapidly from one idea to another, making communication difficult. Paranoia is also common, especially the belief that others are trying to hurt them, trying to control them or deceive

them. One of the hardest parts of schizophrenia is something called lack of insight. Many people with the illness do not recognize that they are sick. From their perspective, the world is wrong, not them. That means their reactions, their extreme ones can feel logical or necessary inside their own mind. And when someone loses inside, their ability to make safe, rational decisions can disappear along with it. But this is important to say this very clearly. The vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent. They are far more likely to be. harmed than to harm anyone else. But violence can occur in certain high-risk situations that usually involves untreated or poorly treated psychosis, intense paranoia, active hallucinations,

or delusions involving fear or perceived threats. When you add sudden medication changes, emotional instability, or substance abuse into the mix, the risk drastically increases. And in those moments, a person may believe they're acting in self-defense, responding to a threat that feels very real to them or following internal commands they don't understand how to resist. From the outside, the behavior looks horrifying. From inside the illness, it may feel unavoidable. Schizophrenia is typically treated with antipsychotic medications, which work by altering brain chemistry to reduce hallucinations and those delusions. But finding the right medication, the right dose is rarely simple. There is no single drug that works for everyone. Treatment often involves

trial and error. Doctors adjust dosages, which medications monitor side effects and hope to find something that brings stability without causing intolerable problems. And during this adjustment period, symptoms can actually get worse. People can become more agitated, more paranoid, more impulsive, or emotionally distress. Confusion can increase. Judgment. Judgment can deteriorate. And if medications are changed too quickly, stop too abruptly, or mixed with drugs or alcohol instability, can spike dramatically. Sources in this case have said Nick's doctors were actively trying to adjust and fine-tuned his medication in the weeks before the killings and that stability had not been achieved

yet. Clinicians often describe that window as one of the most dangerous times for someone with schizophrenia. Substance abuse complicates schizophrenia in serious ways. Drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, even alcohol can intensify hallucinations and paranoia, reduce the effectiveness of medication and increase impulsivity and aggression. In some cases, substance use can mask symptoms until they suddenly erupt. And others, it can trigger full psychotic episodes or make recovery far more difficult. But it's also important to understand that people

living with severe mental illnesses, especially psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia, sometimes turn to drugs as a form of self-medication. For some, substances can temporarily quiet, intrusive thoughts, numb overwhelming fear, or dull voices and paranoia that feel unbearable. In the moment, drugs may feel like the only way to regain a sense of control or relief, even though they ultimately make symptoms worse. What starts as an attempt to cope can quickly spiral into addiction, creating a cycle where the illness fuels substance use and the substance use intensifies the illness. It's not about recklessness or moral failure. It's all often about desperation and trying to survive a mind that no longer feels safe.

And I want to really stress again that schizophrenia isn't one single fixed condition. It exists on a spectrum. That means symptoms, severity, and functioning can vary widely from person to person and even change over time. Some people experience mild to intermittent symptoms and live fairly stable lives with treatment while others have more severe psychosis, disorganized thinking, or difficulty distinguishing reality from delusions. Stress, medication changes, substance use, and life events can all influence where someone falls on that spectrum at any given moment. And as we learn more information about this case, my co-host, criminal psychologist Dr. John Matthias, will come back on to talk about

schizophrenia and how that diagnosis could have impacted this case. But one of the hardest questions people ask in cases like this is, can a person with schizophrenia be held accountable? In severe psychosis, it is possible for someone to act without fully understanding what they are doing or grasping the consequences of their actions. They may believe they're responding to a threat that doesn't exist. They may misinterpret reality entirely. Their memory of the event can later be fragmented, distorted, or incomplete. That doesn't mean they automatically aren't responsible under the law. That's not what we're saying here.

But it does mean intent becomes far more complicated, which is critical in criminal cases. It is possible for someone to physically commit an act while mentally existing in a reality that bears little resemblance to the real one. When a defense team argues not guilty by reason of insanity, they aren't saying a crime didn't happen. They're saying that at the time of the act, the defendant could not understand what they were doing or could not understand that it was wrong. In schizophrenia cases, this often comes down to medical records, documented diagnosis, medication changes, witness accounts of evidence. escalating behavior and expert psychiatric testimony. The question becomes not just what happened, but what was happening inside the defendant's mind when it happened. And if Nick's defense pursues this strategy, the court will ultimately have to decide whether he was capable of forming criminal

intent at that moment. That is a narrow legal question and it's one jury's often struggle with deeply. Talking about schizophrenia doesn't excuse violence. What it does, it does help explain how something so unthinkable can happen, even inside families with resources, access to care and deep concern. The diagnosis changes the way this case has to be looked at, whether people are ready for that or not. Nothing about learning that Nick Reiner was diagnosed with schizophrenia makes what happened to Rob and Michelle any less horrific. Their deaths are just as devastating and just as unjust. Two lives were lost in a way no family should ever. have to endure and that truth does not change. But at the same time, this new information forces a

more complicated conversation. If Nick was truly in the middle of an unstable schizophrenic episode with medications being adjusted, substance abuse in the background, and his mental state deteriorating, then it's also heartbreaking to imagine what may have been happening inside his mind. He may have been terrified. He may not have understood what was real. He may not have known what he was doing or why he felt the way he did. For some people, that idea sounds like an excuse. I know. But mental illness is not an excuse. It is a reality. And severe mental illness can completely hijack a person's perception of the world, regardless of their upbringing, their bank account, or their last name. Nick may be viewed by many as spoiled, privileged, or a so-called nepo baby, but no amount of money, influence, or access can magically cure schizophrenia.

Wealth does not insulate families from psychosis. Fame does not prevent addiction. And no class of people is immune to mental illness spirally out of control. If anything, this case exposes how powerless families can become when an adult child is severely ill. even when they are scared, even when they are begging for help, even when there are warning signs. This isn't a story with easy villains or clean conclusions. It's a tragedy layered on top of another tragedy, a family broken in ways that feel almost impossible to comprehend. As this case moves forward, emotions will run high.

Opinions will harden. But understanding the role of mental illness doesn't mean forgetting the victims. It means refusing to look away from the full truth. And sometimes the full truth is uncomfortable. 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,

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