Full timeline of events leading up to Rob and Michele Reiner’s murder
Tributes have been pouring in for Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner after their shock deaths left Hollywood reeling on Sunday (14 December).
Police were called to the home of the famed filmmaker and actor, 78, and photographer, 68, after they were found dead from apparent stab wounds in their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles.
Reiner is credited with being behind some of the most memorable films of the 1980s and 1990s, including This Is Spinal Tap, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride.
After the horrific news broke, authorities revealed they were investigating the deaths as an 'apparent homicide', but few details were provided to the public. However, since then, the Reiners' 32-year-old son Nick has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, but has not yet entered a plea.
Advert
New records released by the LA County medical examiner also revealed that Rob and Michele died of 'multiple sharp force injuries'.
Here's a timeline of everything that's reported to have unfolded so far:
Saturday 14th December - The Reiners attended a Christmas party
Reports have been circulating that Michele, Rob and their son Nick all attended a Christmas party the day before the celebrity couple were found dead.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the screenwriter and his parents - who share two other children - were at a holiday party at American TV host Conan O’Brien’s house.
However, unnamed sources have told US publications that Nick was asking celebrities three strange questions during the bash.
The publication reports that the 32-year-old 'interrupted comedian Bill Hader, whom Rob had introduced Nick to earlier at the party, with a series of strange questions'.
The questions were allegedly: "What’s your name? What’s your last name? Are you famous?"
A source told the WSJ that he had also been asking other partygoers the same slew of queries and 'was eventually asked to leave'.
It's thought that this was the last time the Reiners' celebrity friends saw them alive.
Sunday 15th December early hours - Rob and Michele Reiner's deaths
A press release from the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office outlined roughly the time they believe Rob and Michele died.
It said the alleged stabbing is thought to have taken place 'approximately the early morning hours of December 14,' however, their bodies weren't discovered until the afternoon.
As we say, new records released by the LA County medical examiner say the couple died of 'multiple sharp force injuries'.
Sunday 15th December at 4am - Nick Reiner allegedly checks into a hotel
ABC News have reported that Nick checked into a hotel in Santa Monica in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He allegedly used his own credit card to secure a one-night reservation.
Sunday 15th December at 3pm - Rob and Michele Reiner's bodies are found
Rob and Michele's bodies were found at around 3.30pm on Sunday, roughly 12 hours after they were thought to have died.
The Los Angeles Fire Department says it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3.30pm on Sunday and found a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman dead inside, who were later identified as Rob and Michele.
At the time, an official said investigators believed they suffered stab wounds, and a family member was being questioned.
Footage shows Nick Reiner hours before his arrest
Video footage, which was made public by investigators, shows Nick visiting a petrol station in the hours after the double homicide.
In the clip, he is seen purchasing a drink at the counter, wearing a green, white and black tracksuit jacket, a black cap, and a red backpack.
Sunday 15th December at 9.15pm - Nick Reiner is arrested
Nick was arrested at roughly 9:15pm, around 14 miles from the scene and taken into custody.
He was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, as well as the fact he used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife.
Allegedly, he fled but was arrested hours later that evening in Exposition Park near the University of Southern California.
Los Angeles district attorney Nathan Hochman said no decision had been made on whether to seek the death penalty in the case.
He appeared in court on Wednesday wearing what appeared to be a suicide prevention vest and spoke only to say 'Yes your honour' to agree to the date of his arraignment, US publications reported.
Appearing outside the court, his lawyer Alan Jackson said: “There are very, very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case.”
He added: “We are set for January 7 for an arraignment. That’s the next court date, and that’s all I have to say at this point. There may be more at some other point, but today we rest on where we stand procedurally, which is a continuance of arraignment.
“Nothing happened today substantively, we’ll be back for an arraignment in the same department on January 7.”
Topics: Crime, News, World News, US News, Celebrity
Madison Burgess