Authorities share more details on timeline of Rob and Michele Reiner’s death after son Nick charged

The sudden deaths of renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have sent shockwaves through Hollywood.

And now, authorities have issued an update on the harrowing case, along with a more detailed timeline of what actually happened.

Reiner, 78, and his wife, 68, were found dead from apparent stab wounds in their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, on Sunday (14 December), with investigators saying at the time that they were treating it as an 'apparent homicide'.

As well as being an actor, Reiner was one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work includes some of the most memorable films of the 1980s and 1990s, such as This Is Spinal Tap, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride.

For a while after the horrific news broke, authorities didn't release any details of a suspect or motive, but now, the public has been issued an update in a press release on Tuesday (16 December).

The couple's son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of murder (Rommel Demano/Getty Images)

Nick Reiner's murder charges announced

The first new detail we have is that the late couple's son, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

To be specific, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office outlines that he has been charged with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.

He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife.

He was arrested a few hours after their bodies were found, around 14 miles from the scene, and taken into custody.

Police revealed in their new release that in 'approximately the early morning hours of December 14', Reiner is accused of fatally stabbing his parents at their home.

Tributes have been made to the Hollywood director and his wife in the wake of their death (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

He allegedly fled but was arrested hours later that evening in Exposition Park near the University of Southern California.

If convicted as charged, Reiner faces death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.

Nick is currently being held without bail, has not entered a plea and did not appear in court on Tuesday as expected because of unspecified health reasons, according to his lawyer Alan Jackson.

He is expected to appear before a judge on Wednesday.

More details about the timeline surrounding their deaths has been released by authorities (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Approximate time of death revealed

Secondly, the press release notes that the alleged murders took place 'in approximately the early morning hours of December 14'.

However, Rob and Michele's bodies were only discovered at around 3pm on December 14, meaning they were likely killed around 12 hours prior, according to authorities.

More details about the alleged murder weapon have also been released, as the press release says Reiner is accused of 'fatally stabbing' his parents - who share two other children, as well as a child from Rob's first marriage - and allegedly 'personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife' in the murders.

District Attorney Hochman said in Tuesday's briefing: "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.

"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."