Romy Reiner Fled After Finding Father’s Body, Was Unaware Mother Was Also Killed, Family Friend Says

A person close to the Reiner family said that Romy Reiner, 28, fled the house after discovering her father’s body inside, and was only informed later by paramedics that her mother was also deceased inside the residence.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the unnamed source revealed several details challenging earlier reporting on the brutal murders of director Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner. The source also provided insight into what set off the chain of events that culminated with formal charges being filed against Nick Reiner, 32, for two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances.

A massage therapist was the first to alert the Oscar-nominated director’s daughter to a potential problem, calling her on Sunday afternoon when no one answered at the front gate despite having a scheduled appointment for that day. Romy reportedly rushed over to the home with a roommate, and discovered her father’s body when she went inside. She immediately ran back outside, distraught, and her roommate called 911.

The source told The NYT that paramedics arrived a short time later, and said that while Romy did inform them that her brother Nick had been living on the property, she did not immediately name him as a suspect in the murder. Paramedics were the first to inform her that, although Romy had not seen a second body when she went inside, her mother was also deceased and in the house.

Investigators checked the guest house, and when they did not find Nick Reiner there, they searched elsewhere and arrested him near Exposition Park — about 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles — hours later. A hotel room linked to Nick Reiner’s credit card was reportedly found covered in blood on Sunday.

During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, authorities filled in a few of the gaps in the story as well, saying that they still had not determined whether the Reiners had been killed late on Saturday — after attending a holiday party hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien alongside Nick — or early on Sunday. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that autopsies were still pending, and that they would have to wait for the coroner to determine a more specific time of death.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman also told the public that, as of Tuesday afternoon, Nick Reiner had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances related to there being multiple murders and to the use of a deadly weapon.

Reiner is being held without bail and made his first court appearance on Wednesday after a short delay as he awaited medical clearance to do so. He has retained high-powered defense attorney Alan Jackson — whose past clients include actor Kevin Spacey and disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein — to represent him.