Hidden True Crime - Nick Reiner DEMANDS Million Dollars from Trust & Alan Jackson Ready to Rejoin Defense if Money Comes

Episode Date: June 10, 2026

A shocking new court filing in the Nick Reiner case may reveal why celebrity defense attorney Alan Jackson abruptly withdrew just weeks after declaring, “Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that.” In this episode, Lauren breaks down the latest legal battle surrounding the son of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, who is accused of murdering both of his parents in their Brentwood home in December 2025. Nick’s attorneys are now seeking access to more than $1.5 million from a family trust, arguing the funds legally belong to him and are necessary to fund his defense. Lauren explores the trust dispute, the possibility of Alan Jackson returning to the case, the legal complexities of the Slayer Rule, Nick’s documented mental health history, and what this latest filing could mean for one of Hollywood’s most disturbing and closely watched murder cases. Sponsor: Veracity: For up to 65% off your order, head to https://VeracityHealth.co and use code 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

Summers always make me rethink what I'm reaching for every day to wear. I want clothes that feel effortless, lightweight, comfortable, timeless. That's a word I love, especially during busy filming days or running around with family. And that is why I keep going back to quince. I have especially been loving their dresses lately as the weather gets warmer. I have this beautiful yellow V-neck middy dress from them that I recently wore with their Italian leather sandals. and it has become one of those outfits I keep reaching for because it feels polished without trying too hard. The quality honestly surprised me. Quince uses really beautiful materials like European linen and organic cotton,

but without the huge luxury markup, they're made so well these clothes. I also love that they've expanded beyond clothing and they are now into home, betting and other elevated everyday essentials too. Elevate your summer wardrobe. Head to Quince's dot com slash hidden true crime for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. They're now available in Canada too because we know that mini jams have been asking. Yes, Canada too. That's Quince, Q-U-I-N-Ce dot com slash hidden true crime for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com slash hidden true crime. This show is supported by Odu. When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up, and it gets complicated and confusing. O-DU solves this.

It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. O-D-O-D-O-O-O-O-D-O-O-D-O-O-com. You can save money without missing out on features you need. Check out O-D-O-O-O-D-O-com. That's O-D-O-D-O-O-com. Imagine being accused of murdering your parents and then asking a court for access to more than a million dollars connected to them while you sit in jail awaiting trial. That is exactly what's happening in Hollywood's horrific Nick Reiner case right now.

And the new filing doesn't just reveal a fight over money. It may finally answer one of the biggest mysteries in this case, why. fame defense attorney Alan Jackson abruptly withdrew after publicly declaring Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that. Remember that? And then he just like walked away. Well, we now know why. Or it looks like we know why. We have all of the breaking updates for you when it comes to the arrest and charges against Nick Reiner, son of Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer-Riner. Because according to a recently filed petition, Nick and his legal team are now asking the court for a court. access to more than a million of what his attorney says is his own money funds tied to a trust set up by his parents, his murdered parents, decades ago. And it's not just about legal fees.

The filing also suggests that some of that money could be used to cover basic comforts while he remains in jail, preparing for trial. And at the same time, we're also again learning more about one of the biggest early questions, right? Again, about Alan Jackson, who suddenly withdrew. And surprisingly, though, not only we're learning about that, we're now seeing some indications that he may not be completely out of the picture after all. Alan Jackson might be back. So a lot to unpack here.

But before we get into the new filing, the money dispute, and what this could mean for the defense going forward, let's rewind and lay out how this case unfolded up until this point. My name is Lauren Matthias, and this is hidden true crime. In December 2025, inside a quiet Brentwood home in Los Angeles, one of Hollywood's most well-known families, was hit with a devastating and unimaginable loss. Rob Reiner, the legendary director of films like Stand By Me,

the Princess Bride, when Harry met Sally and his wife of 36 years, Michelle Singer-Riner, a photographer and producer, they were found stabbed to death inside their home. And then the person accused of killing them wasn't a stranger. It was their own son. 32-year-old Nick Reiner was arrested just hours after the bodies were discovered. He had been in custody ever since and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Rob and Michelle Reiner had built what many people viewed as an incredibly successful life together. The couple met in 1988, married the following year, went on to raise three children, Jake, Nick, and Romy.

People who knew them often described the Reiner's as a close-knit family. But despite that, Nick had struggled for years with substance abuse and mental health. Those struggles were not hidden from the people around him either. In fact, family members had reportedly been trying to support him for a long time for years. And court records show he was even placed under a conservatorship in 2020. Well, then came December 13, 2025 the night before the murders. Robin Michelle attended Conan O'Brien's annual Christmas party in Pacific Palisades. Nick was also there with his parents.

And then after, reports started surfacing about concerning behavior that night at the party. Witnesses described Nick as acting erratically throughout that evening, at times approaching guests, asking if they were famous, which made people uncomfortable. Some suggested that police were possibly about to be called multiple reports indicate a public argument between Nick and his father, Rob, during that party. It looked like a tense family moment, but nobody, nobody could have known. It would later become part of a murder investigation. And then sometime during the early morning hours of December 14th, prosecutors alleged that Nick attacked both of his parents inside their Brentwood home using a knife.

Authorities have never released an exact time of death, but both Rob and Michelle suffered multiple, multiple sharp force injuries. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later ruled both deaths as homicides, as murders. And the discovery, though, did not come until later that day when Rob and Michelle failed to show, up for scheduled appointments, their daughter, Romie, went to check on them. And then what she found inside the home, I can only imagine. It's been described as unimaginable and obviously, because both of her parents were deceased in the most brutal way. Police were immediately called. The investigation quickly focused on Nick, who had also been living at the home. Within an hour of surveillance footage reportedly showed Nick at a gas station buying a drink. Yeah, just buying a drink. He was seen wearing a

green, white, and black track suit jacket, a black hat and carrying a red backpack. And then later that night, around 9.15 p.m. authorities located him near the University of Southern California campus and arrested him on suspicion of murdering both of his parents, his well-known parents. So two days later, on December 16th, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hockman announced formal charges. Nick was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors also alleged he personally used a knife in the commission of the murders. And because there were two victims, the case includes a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, which could make it eligible for the death penalty in California, although prosecutors still have not yet

said whether they will pursue that option. The next A, Nick made his first court appear as he appeared in a blue anti-suicide mock and shackles after being medically cleared for. for court and during the hearing, he answered the judge's questions and waved his right to a speedy arraignment. As the case moved forward, his siblings, Jake and Romi both released a public statement about the loss of their parents. They said, quote, words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain. We are experiencing every moment of the day. And then they also said, the horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Robin Michelle Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They were not just our parents. They were our best friends. And then Jake himself

later shared more tributes, remembering them as loving parents whose absence has left an enormous void on him. Meanwhile, Nick's defense began to take shape. Shortly after his arrest, he retained high-profile California defense attorney Alan Jackson. Jackson, again, known for handling major clients, including working with Harvey Weinstein on his case, and then more recently, his involvement in the Karen Reed case. So his arrival immediately drew attention, just coming off the Karen Reed case, but just as quickly as he entered the case, he was gone. In January, 2026, only weeks later, Jackson withdrew as Nick's attorney. And at first, he refused to explain why. He only said that circumstances beyond his control and beyond Nick's control made continued

representation impossible and that he was ethically and legally unable to provide further details. Well, that immediately sparked speculation, right? People wondered if there had been an internal conflict, early evidence issues, or a breakdown behind the scenes. On Billy Bush's hot mic podcast, he said, quote, obviously something happened with my ability and my team's ability to continue the representation, but I don't want you or your audience or anybody else to start speculating as to what that might be. Yeah, well, Alan, you can you can say you don't want any of us speculating, but we've all been speculating. And in that same discussion, he made another thing clear saying, once I'm done, I'm done. I've withdrawn, end quote. Another Alan Jackson quote.

Well, okay, so that seemed to close the door completely, right? Eventually, attorney Kimberly Green stepped in as Nick's defense counsel. And then in February, 26, Nick was formally arraigned. and entered not guilty, please, to both murder charges. And those pleas, not guilty to both murder charges, still stand today. They haven't changed. And since then, he's remained in custody without bail while both sides prepare for what is expected to be a long and complex trial. The prosecution's theory is straightforward.

They allege that Nick killed both of his parents inside their Brentwood home during the early morning hours of December 14th after that Conan O'Brien Christmas. party. The defense, however, has already signaled that Nick's mental health history is going to play a major role, major role in how they approach this case. And that brings us to the newest developments. Here we go. Nick Reiner's team has filed a new and very detailed petition that shifts the focus away from the criminal allegations and into a financial dispute. So let's not talk about the murders. Let's just get into finances here. And it's already dividing the public. Anyone else feel like stress has become background noise, whether it's work, family, a pack schedule,

just trying to keep up with everything happening in the world, it is easy to feel like my brain is always running one step ahead. Anybody else? This podcast episode is sponsored by Veracity. And I have been taking, thank goodness, their cortisol calming supplement. And I love it. What I like is that it's natural. It's science-backed. God bless science. It's a science-backed approach to managing stress. I started taking it a few weeks ago, and it has become a part of my morning routine on the days when life feels especially full, which is most days. It's formulated with ingredients like aschwaganda and rodeola and altheonine and bucopa to help support stress resilience, calm concentration, and mental clarity in a natural way. And because it's drug-free

and doctor-formulated, it feels like a really practical addition to an already healthy routine. So calm your stress the natural way. Head to veracityhealth.com and use code hidden for up to 65% off your order. That's 65%. Once again, that's Veracity, V-E-R-A-C-I-T-Y health.co, C-O for up to 65% off as long as you use my promo code hidden. So according to the filing, Nick is asking for access to more than $1.5 million, held in a trust, created by, his parents in 1993. More importantly, though, his attorneys argue that this isn't part of his parents' estate. That's not what this trust is. This is a separate trust, they say, created specifically for Nick and his siblings. They explained that each child had an individual trust established for their benefit. And according to the petition, Nick was supposed to receive half of his share of this

trust when he turned 30 years old and the remaining half at 35 years old. Well, he's now 32 years old. His attorneys argue that the first distribution was never made when he turned 30. And they say the trust contained at least $1.5 million, although they acknowledge they have not been provided a full accounting. And one of the most central arguments in the filing is that this is not inheritance from an estate. Again, it's money they say that already belongs to Nick, a trust set up for him and his siblings. The petition says, quote, they were a commitment by Nick's parents in the most binding way the law of trust allows that these resources would belong to Nick for his use and benefit, end quote. But, but there's always a butt, right? But the trustee, according to the defense, has refused to release the funds and has refused and has,

provided what they describe as, quote, a shifting series of excuses and justifications. That's how the defense describes what the trustee is doing. Trustee not handing out the money. And, you know, makes sense. There's kind of a lot of conflict, right? And the defense is saying that the trustee is using a shifting series of excuses and justifications. So one of those reasons involves concerns about Nick's competency to manage the money, according to what they say the trustee's concern is. But his attorneys are pushing back

on that issue of Nick's competency, arguing that the trust terms require distribution at specific ages, again, age 30 and 35, he's 32 now, so where is that first distribution, regardless of any concerns about Nick's capability to manage the money. So in other words, the Nick's attorneys say the trustee who's withholding the funds doesn't have the authority to override this agreement. And that's where things get even more controversial because Nick isn't just asking for money that he says should have already been distributed to him. He's also asking for additional funds right now. So more now, specifically to fund his legal defense. So in other words, probably not wait until he's 35. That raises the stakes significantly. With two counts of first-degree murder and special

circumstances attached, Nick is facing life in prison, you know, again, potentially the death penalty. The petition makes that point directly, stating the stakes for Nick could not be higher. It actually says that. And also, quote, like anyone accused of a crime, Nick is presumed innocent and he is entitled to mount his defense with resources that are lawfully his own, end quote. And that leads directly into the renewed attention around Allen Jackson. Four months, his withdrawal was one of the biggest unanswered questions in this case. But now a declaration included in this new filing sheds more likely.

on what happened. According to Jackson, the issue ultimately came down to funding. He says he was brought into the case immediately after Nick's arrest and began working on it right away even before any payment had been made. He wrote, although we were away from California and no funds had yet been paid, I immediately began evaluating and responding to the situation, end quote. He also explained that he relied on assurances from family representatives. that funding arrangements had been secured. More specifically, he says, Nick's siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner,

verbally agreed to serve as third-party payers. Jackson stated that those assurances were critical in his decision to commit firm resources, writing, quote, had I not received assurances that funding would be provided, I would not have diverted these firm resources, interrupted existing professional commitments,

or directed my firm to undertake the extensive work described above, end quote. But according to Jackson, the funding never came through, and once it became clear that the financial support was not actually going to materialize, he withdrew from the case. He also added something notable. My firm stands ready, willing, and able to resume representation of Mr. Reiner, end quote, meaning his departure may not actually be permanent, like Mr. Jackson said on this. Billy Bush podcast. So in other words, not everything an attorney tells you is true. He might not

actually be gone forever. And if the trust funds are released, there is now a real possibility he could reenter the defense team. Our team knew that a trust existed. We did not know what the contours of the trusts were. There were multiple trusts, we believed at the time. But as the lawsuit indicates, that Anita Wu filed against the trustee, there were, there were, there were, garrowsy. guarantees, promises there were certain overtures made about our defense and funding our defense, funding Nick's defense on his behalf, which includes things like, you know, inherently important things, hiring experts, getting the entire defense sort of populated with the right folks, the right people. It's not just simply about legal fees. As a matter of fact, there's much,

much more to it than that. We knew that there were trust funds that existed prior to Michelle and Rob's tragic passing. The issue that's now before the court in probate, and I'm not the probate lawyer, I didn't bring that lawsuit. Another lawyer did is what's the difference between an inheritance and a trust? And that's what I think your viewers and what you just seized upon, that's what they need to understand. And inheritance is subject to the Slayer rule, which means you can't benefit from conduct that is supposedly specifically attendant to you receiving money under that behind that conduct. That's not what the situation is here. Nick Reiner had a trust. He had a trust well before the passing of his parents. That trust is an irrevocable trust that

is his money. It's in the name of a trustee. He is the beneficiary and that trustee has a duty and an obligation to see to that trust in the best interests of his client. And that client is one person. That's Nick Reiner. That's what the money that the lawsuit indicates is being held back from Nick, and it's wildly unfair. No matter what you think about the case, no matter what people conceive or on board about the case, specifically, the justice system only works when it's just, and that is Nick's money. According to the lawsuit, that money belonged to him well in advance of the circumstances that brought him to court in this instance. If he's entitled to it, then he should get it and be able to do with it what he wants and what he wants to do with it, according to

is to hire the legal defense of his choice. That is a Sixth Amendment right that every single person, every citizen has under the Constitution. Nick Reiner is no exception. He's entitled to it. And that's what this lawsuit is attempting to secure for him, his rights. So in the documents that were filed, Nick says that this money, that his siblings signed off on him using this money, that they were not going to stand in the way of, of, of, you know, that he was. him getting this money to use for his representation.

Was that your understanding? Did you hear anything about his siblings' sign off when you started working on this case? Yeah, if you look at the declaration that we filed, that I filed in support of at the request of his probate lawyer, it lays a lot of that out. It does not do anything, and I'm not gonna do anything to invade the attorney-client privilege

in my conversations with Nick. specifically, but yeah, our understanding was from the jump, from the time I was in New York, and I got that call, that urgent emergency call, our understanding was that the family not only was not going to stand in the way, but was fully supportive of bringing us on board immediately so we could jump into action to start securing Nick's interests and his rights. So in that declaration that you mentioned, Alan, you do mention that you would be willing to, and you're ready to rejoin this case to represent Nick if the finances of the trust fund,

if this trust fund battle can be figured out and he can have access to that money that you're willing to come back on to represent him? Well, in your opening remarks, you refer back to the press conference that I gave outside the courthouse when I had to very troublingly step down. You could tell from then I was, not happy about having to step away from this case. I think Nick Reiner, like anybody else,

is entitled to a robust, a zealous defense, the best defense he can possibly get. I still believe that to this day. So you're damn right. If the circumstances, the logistics are such that we can come on board, if there are the resources there that are necessary to be able to build a robust, a full throw to defense, absolutely, absolutely. Me and my entire team are ready, willing and able to step back in and start securing his defense. So all of this, of course, naturally raises a bigger question people are already debating. Should someone accused of killing their parents be able to access money tied to those same parents, right? That's where the Slayer rule comes in. The Slayer rule. A lot of people online have immediately asked, if he's accused of killing his parents,

Shouldn't he automatically lose any inheritance? The answer, though, is definitely more complicated than many of us realize. The slayer rule exists specifically to prevent people from profiting from murder. The basic idea is that if someone intentionally kills another person, the law generally prevents them from benefiting from that person's estate. The legal system obviously doesn't want someone murdering a relative in order to collect inheritance. Not okay. However, though, the situation becomes much murkier when there hasn't been a conviction.

Nick has only been charged at this point. He's not convicted. Even if someone is ultimately acquitted in criminal court, probate courts can sometimes, they'll conduct their own separate analysis when determining whether inheritance restrictions apply. And if a defendant is convicted of a lesser offense rather than intentional murder, additional legal questions, again, can still arise. So it's not so clear-cut. For example, attorneys could potentially argue that a killing was not intentional or that severe mental illness affected culpability. Those are not arguments that have been decided here yet at all. They're just examples of why inheritance laws can be a lot more complex that many of us realize when criminal proceedings are still ongoing. Oh, I wanted to look into it. I wanted

to understand. So there you go. This is what I've been learning. The petition itself attempts to avoid those questions entirely. At Volvo, safety is not a feature. It's our purpose. Rigorous crash testing. Decades of learning from real accidents. Innovations that help prevent accidents before they happen and help protect you

when they occur. Going above and beyond industry standards. A vision of zero collisions. Volvo's legacy revolves around you because safety is about helping to keep you and everyone around you safe for life. Learn more at Volvo, In fact, Nick's attorneys repeatedly say that this trust litigation is not the place to determine

guilt or innocence. They write, Nick loved his parents and he is devastated by their deaths. Yeah, it says this. But the facts about what did and did not happen to them are not at issue in this trust litigation, end quote. True. The filing goes on to say that those facts belong in the criminal case and not the trust dispute, not the money dispute.

So whether any of us agree with that argument or not is another matter, but that is the position the defense is advancing and the position the defense is taking. Some people have also compared this situation to Son of Sam laws. So what are those? Those are laws that were created to prevent criminals from profiting from their crimes through book deals, movie rights, interviews, and similar opportunities. It's very, very interesting, especially in Hollywood, right? The laws are named after serial killer David Berkowitz, whose crimes generated lucrative media interest.

However, son of Sam laws are fundamentally different from what we're discussing here, clearly. Those laws focus on profits generated because of the crime itself. So, for example, money earned from selling a story, writing a book, or licensing media rights. Nick isn't, at least at this moment, seeking profits from publicity or trying to sell a story, not yet. He is right now seeking access to an existing trust that his attorneys argue was created decades before the alleged murders ever occurred, money he was supposed to get when he turned 30. So while people often mention son of Sam laws during conversations like this, the legal issues are very different here. And that is why this filing, though, is so controversial and is, I mean, in my opinion, become even more controversial for a lot of people, the idea that Nick Reiner could potentially

access millions of dollars connected to his parents that he's accused of murdering. It just feels wrong, right? It feels wrong. But a feeling, of course, isn't illegal wrong. Many people see it as rewarding someone, though, who is accused of committing an unthinkable act. Clearly, it makes sense. However, though, again, if a trust legally belongs to Nick, then some people argue, including his defense, that he should have the same right to use his money for legal representation

that anyone else would have. Another thing worth talking about is the trustee's position, right? We know a lot about what Nick's attorneys are arguing, but we know much less about what the trustee is likely to argue or who the trustee is likely to argue or who the trustee is. even is because that's my big question. I'm like, who's the trustee? Is it, is it a relative? Is it someone at a bank? Who is the trustee? The petition repeatedly accuses the trustee of providing what it calls a quote, again, shifting series of excuses and justifications. But remember, we are mostly hearing one side of the dispute right now. The trustee has not yet

publicly laid out a detailed response. We don't know why the trustee has withheld withheld Nick's money? Is it just simply because they don't believe that Nick can manage it? Is there some fine print in this trust? We don't know. So it's worth considering what concerns might be motivating the resistance. And then one obvious issue is the pending murder case, of course, even if a trust document appears straightforward, any trustee overseeing millions of dollars is likely going to be extremely cautious when the beneficiary is facing double murder charge. involved involving the people who created the trust. Imagine being the person responsible for approving that distribution of millions of dollars. If you release the money and then Nick is later

convicted, people will inevitably question that decision when it goes to funding his defense against the people, you know, against murder charges of the people who created that trust. And then if you refuse to release the money, though, and a court later determines that Nick was entitled to it all along, you'll be criticized for that too. And does that affect his best defense? It's a no-win situation here. Another issue that keeps surfacing throughout the petition is competency, Nick's competency. The filing repeatedly references concerns about Nick's ability to manage the trust, manage the money, manage a million five, and more. He gets a million five when he's 30, he's actually asking for more to fund the defense. That brings us back to another

important element of this case, Nick's documented mental health history long before these allegations surfaced. Reports indicated that Nick had struggled with mental illness. Court records show he was briefly placed under a conservatorship in 2020. Reports have stated that he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, a diagnosis does not automatically explain criminal behavior, and it certainly does not mean someone is violent if they have schizophrenia. The overwhelming majority of people living with schizophrenia, again, never, never commit violent crimes. But from a legal perspective, the diagnosis might become relevant, might become highly relevant, actually. And that brings us back to the timing of this petition. Why now? Why this sudden breaking news? I didn't wake up today,

knowing I was going to do this report. Why file it now? Nick was arrested in December. The trust existed before that. So why are we seeing this filing in June? Why now? One possibility is that the criminal case is slowly moving toward a stage where defense preparation becomes significantly more intensive. As the case progresses, the need for resources grow. Do we or do we not want Alan Jackson back on the case? I really think that's ultimately at the center of this. You know, experts need to be retained too, though. Investigations need to be conducted. And potential mitigation evidence needs to be uncovered. If the defense believes trust funds are available, now may be the moment. They feel pressure to secure access to it. Again, Alan Jackson is like, hey, remember me? Here I am. I really,

I want to help. How are those funds doing? Every month that passes is another month, Nick remains incarcerated. Another month without access to the resources. His attorneys argue belong to Nick Reiner, another month that passes before major pretrial litigation begins. It is unclear how or where Nick's siblings stand on the issue. However, though, again, back in April, Jake Reiner released a statement saying, this is, this is a sad, heartbreaking statement. So, Jake Reiner, brother to Nick, brother to Romney, son of Michelle and Rob, released this statement saying, quote, on the afternoon of December 14th, I was in Union Station at a celebration of life for one of my best friends, Christian Anderson. Can you imagine that?

He was at a celebration of life for his best friend, Christian Anderson, on December 14th, 2025. And Christian Anderson, he continues, who died in October. Jake continues, it was at that moment I received a call from my sister Romy telling me our father was dead. Minutes later, she called back telling me our mother was also dead. The 45-minute lift ride from downtown to the west side was unendurable. My world as I knew it had collapsed. I was in a trance. The only thing I could focus on was that I needed to get to my childhood home and I needed to get to my sister.

I needed to figure out what the hell just happened. This is my story. Romney will tell hers in her own way and in her time. I was robbed of so many things that day. My parents won't be at my wedding. They won't get to hold their future grandchild and they won't get to see me. have the successful career I'm still seeking. It simultaneously breaks my heart and enrages me. Nothing can prepare you for what it feels like to lose both your parents instantly at the same time.

It's too devastating to comprehend. I still wake up every morning having to convince myself that, no, it's not a dream. This truly is a living nightmare, my living nightmare. I can't even begin to put myself in my parent's shoes. But one thing I keep coming back to is how frighten. they must have been. They were the last people in the world to deserve what happened to them. They deserved to be loved. They deserved to be respected. And above all, they deserved to be appreciated for how much they gave to all three of us and to the world. To me, my parents are the center of my life. They are my guiding lights in the foundation of who I am as a human being and the most giving people I have ever known. A lot of people don't have.

a luxury of having the best parents, the best mom or the best dad, but I did. The love they have for me, my brother and my sister is truly unconditional and the love they have for each other and their marriage is something. I always looked up to as a standard of what a successful relationship looks like, end quote. I mean, if you want to know just the heartbreak in this case, you know, beyond a horrific Hollywood murder. You know, read Jake Reiner's statement. At the end of this day, this filing, it doesn't answer any central questions in the criminal case necessarily.

We still, again, we don't know all of the evidence that's going to be presented at the trial or how the defense will ultimately structure its argument or its possible mental health defense. That's the direction I believe they're going. But what we do know now is that this case is no longer just about what happened in December of 2025. Because depending on how the court rules, the entire defense strategy could be reshaped moving forward, especially if Alan Jackson returns to the case. For now, the trust dispute remains unresolved. With a hearing set in August, we will be covering that.

And until then, this case is only going to keep getting more complicated. But don't worry, despite the complications and the twists and turns, we're going to keep following and bringing you all of the updates as they come out.