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Nick Reiner appears in suicide prevention vest
Nick Reiner made his first court appearance on Wednesday. Reiner appeared in a suicide prevention vest, according to Fox News.
LOS ANGELES - Nick Reiner made his first court appearance Tuesday after being charged with the murders of his parents, legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.
Their stabbing deaths sent shockwaves through multiple communities, including Hollywood and in Washington D.C., as heartfelt tributes poured in from celebrities and politicians.
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- ‘Stunned’: Jane Fonda shares she saw Rob and Michele Reiner night before murders
- Rob Reiner: Hollywood reacts to legendary filmmaker's death
Rob and Michele Reiner's cause of death revealed
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, both Rob and Michele died from "multiple sharp force injuries." The manner of death for both was ruled a homicide.
The medical examiner's report comes three days after the couple was found dead in their Los Angeles home.
Charges filed against Nick Reiner
What we know:
Nick Reiner was expected to enter a plea in a downtown LA courtroom on Wednesday, which marked his first court appearance since being charged in the stabbing death of his parents.
During his appearance, he waived the right to a speedy arraignment and his official arraignment was postponed because the defense is still gathering information, officials said. His face was not allowed to be shown during the hearing.
FOX 11's Christina Gonzalez was inside the courtroom and described him as being "disheveled." Nick Reiner, who was on suicide watch Tuesday, was wearing a suicide jumpsuit. She also said he spoke very softly.
This comes the day after the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced the 32-year-old was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Along with the murder charges, prosecutors added special circumstances of multiple murders and a special allegation that the defendant used a dangerous weapon, a knife. The additions could mean a greater sentence.
LA County DA Nathan Hochman has not made a decision on whether to pursue the death penalty.
Prosecutors have called this case "one of the most difficult" when the victims and suspect are members of the same family.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nick Reiner charged with parents' murders
Nick Reiner’s initial court date delayed
Nick Reiner initial court appearance Tuesday was postponed after he wasn't given medical clearance.
"Every single inmate goes through a medical clearance before they can be transported to court and that's a process. It's just a procedural issue, and he has not yet been medically cleared," his attorney, Alan Jackson, said.
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Nick Reiner seen on video moments before arrest
New video obtained by FOX 11 shows Nick Reiner in the moments before he was arrested on suspicion of murder in his parents' stabbing deaths.
The high-profile attorney has represented Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
"With him not being medically clear to get on the bus can be one of a few things. There may be some kind of mental health episode occurring, either where he is refusing to get on the boss or he needs to be seen by a psychiatrist," explained Lauren Johnson-Norris, an attorney who is not in the Reiner case.
Rob Reiner's legendary career
Rob Reiner’s career spanned decades as an actor, director, producer, screenwriter and political activist.
He starred in the ‘70s sitcom "All in the Family" and directed classics such as "Stand by Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," and "A Few Good Men."
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Officials announce murder charges against Nick Reiner
Nick Reiner will be charged with the double homicide of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges during a press conference.
He directed the 2015 movie "Being Charlie," which Nick co-wrote. It's a semi-autobiographical film that gives a glimpse into Nick's battle with substance abuse.
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Rob Reiner, wife found dead in Los Angeles home
Actor Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead Sunday afternoon inside their Los Angeles home.
The backstory:
The 32-year-old, who was living with his parents, was arrested on suspicion of murder after his parents were killed at their Brentwood home over the weekend.
The couple, 78-year-old Rob Reiner and 68-year-old Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead Sunday afternoon by their daughter, Romy. Investigators said Nick was not at the home when officers arrived, and detectives believe he left sometime after the attacks.
He was then located and arrested in LA’s Exposition Park area, near the University of Southern California, on Sunday evening. His arrest took place about 14 miles from the crime scene.
Photos of the arrest were released by LAPD's Gang and Narcotics Division.
New details emerge
The night before the killings, sources reported that Nick got into a heated argument with his father at Conan O'Brien's holiday party. A witness told FOX 11 the couple's son had been acting "oddly" that night.
Hours later, Nick Reiner reportedly checked into a Santa Monica hotel around 4 a.m., with hotel staff alleging they found blood in his shower and on his mattress.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- Rob Reiner and son Nick had argument at Conan O’Brien party before parents' death, sources say
- Nick Reiner's Santa Monica hotel room 'full of blood' amid Rob Reiner, Michele Reiner's deaths: TMZ
Nick Reiner’s court appearance delayed
Nick Reiner was set to make his first court appearance Tuesday. However, it was delayed since he wasn’t given medical clearance.
"Every single inmate goes through a medical clearance before they can be transported to court and that's a process. It's just a procedural issue, and he has not yet been medically cleared," his attorney, Alan Jackson, said.
The high-profile attorney has represented Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
"With him not being medically clear to get on the bus can be one of a few things. There may be some kind of mental health episode occurring, either where he is refusing to get on the boss or he needs to be seen by a psychiatrist," explained Lauren Johnson-Norris, an attorney who is not in the Reiner case.
What's next:
Nick Reiner made his first court appearance Tuesday after being charged with the murders of his parents, legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.
Dig deeper:
This marks the fifth alleged case of patricide to occur in Southern California recently.
The son of Grammy-nominated singer, Jubilant Sykes, was charged with murder last week.
Also, officials said radiologist Dr. Eric Cordes, 63, and his wife Vicki Cordes, 66, were gunned down in their driveway by their son late last month.
RELATED:
- Son of singer Jubilant Sykes charged with his murder
- Simi Valley doctor and wife gunned down in driveway by their own son, police say
- Argument between father and son turns deadly
In addition, 47-year-old Juan Gonzalez was arrested on suspicion of killing his 70-year-old father in Perris. And in Lake Balboa, 30-year-old Joshua Bonilla allegedly stabbed his 62-year-old father to death
Read more of this story from FOX 11 Los Angeles.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. This reporting is based on official statements from prosecutors, charging documents, and information released by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles Police Department and previous FOX 11 reports.