Rob Reiner’s daughter, Romy Reiner, discovered his body, but did not realize her mom, Michele Singer Reiner, was also dead, according to a new report.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday, December 16, that Romy, 28, made the tragic discovery on Sunday, December 14, after her parents failed to open the gate to their Brentwood, Los Angeles, home to a massage therapist for a scheduled appointment.
The massage therapist called Romy, who attended her parents’ home with her roommate and discovered her father’s body, per the Times, citing a person close to the Reiner family who wished to remain anonymous.
According to the report, Romy’s roommate, who was waiting outside the home, called 911.
Romy reportedly did not see her mother’s body and learned of Michele’s death from attending paramedics while she waited outside the family home.
Per the Times, Romy told authorities that her older brother, Nick, 32, also lived on the property with their parents.
Nick was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ deaths, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. The DA’s office said Tuesday it had not yet determined whether to seek the death penalty.
“Prosecuting cases involving family violence are some of the most challenging and heart-wrenching we face because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes,” Hochman said in a statement. “Rob Reiner was one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation. His murder and his wife of more than 35 years, Michele Singer Reiner’s murder, are shocking and tragic. We owe it to their memory to pursue justice and accountability for the lives that were taken.”
Rob, 78, and Michele, 68, were found dead inside their Brentwood home on Sunday with apparent stab wounds.
The couple’s family confirmed their deaths in a statement to Variety later that day.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” a family spokesman said in a statement to Variety. “We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
The film director and his photographer wife shared three children: sons Jake, 34, and Nick, and daughter Romy. Rob also shared an adopted daughter, Tracy, 61, with his late ex-wife, Penny Marshall.
Rob, Michele and Nick attended a holiday party at comedian Conan O’Brien’s house on Saturday, December 13, hours before the couple were murdered.
NBC News reported on Tuesday that Nick was involved in an incident with comedian Bill Hader at the event. According to the outlet, Nick allegedly interrupted a conversation Hader, 47, was part of. Hader allegedly told Nick that the conversation was private, after which Nick appeared to stand still and stare before “storming off.” (Us Weekly reached out to Hader’s rep for comment on Tuesday, but did not immediately hear back.)
One insider told Us Weekly on Monday, December 15, that Nick was acting “creepily” at the holiday party.
“Nick was going up to people at Conan O’Brien’s party asking if they were famous,” a source said.
