The three 'unusual questions' Nick Reiner asked A-listers at Hollywood party before parents’ death
More harrowing details have emerged about the days before Nick Reiner was accused of killing his parents.
The 32-year-old was charged with two counts of first-degree murder after his dad, Hollywood director Rob Reiner, 78, and his mum, Michele Singer, 68, were found dead from apparent stab wounds in their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, on Sunday (14 December).
The famous couple died of 'multiple sharp force injuries', according to new records released by the LA County Medical Examiner's Office.
Officially, Nick is accused of two counts of first-degree murder, with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.
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If convicted as charged, he faces death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole, and a decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.
He appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday (17 December) 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.
Police claimed that in 'approximately the early morning hours of December 14', Reiner allegedly stabbed his parents to death before fleeing the crime scene.
He was later arrested around 14 miles from the scene in Exposition Park near the University of Southern California. Nick will be arraigned on 7 January, his lawyer Alan Jackson said.
And now, as we say, more reports have been emerging about what happened in the days leading up to the alleged crime.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the screenwriter was mingling with A-listers at Conan O'Brien's holiday party on Saturday (13 December) and asking celebrities three strange questions.
He attended the party with his parents, according to a report by NBC News.
According to the publication, Nick '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 publication that he had also been asking other partygoers the same strange questions and 'was eventually asked to leave'.
According to MailOnline, the interaction with Hader ended with him saying he was 'in the middle of a private conversation'.
Meanwhile, NBC News reported that Nick appeared to stand still and stare before “storming off' from the chat.
A source told the publication that the 32-year-old's parents were 'upset and embarrassed about their son’s behaviour at the party' and expressed worries about his health.
Following their parents' death, Nick's siblings, Jake and Romy, asked 'for respect and privacy' in a statement released to US publications through a family spokesperson.
They said: "Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day.
"The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no-one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends."
They said they were 'grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life'.
Tyla has contacted Reiner's lawyer and a rep for Hader for comment.
Madison Burgess