Rob Reiner's Son Breaks Silence on Brother's Arrest

Rob Reiner's Son Breaks Silence on Brother's Arrest

The News

Jake Reiner, the 35-year-old eldest son of Rob and Michele Reiner, has given his first television interview since his parents were found stabbed to death at their Brentwood home and his younger brother was arrested for killing them.

Nick Reiner, 32, faces two counts of first-degree murder and pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court earlier this month. He is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles.

Jake said he has not spoken to his brother since the arrest. "I will never understand why this happened," he said.

Timeline

December 14:

Jake was in downtown Los Angeles when his 28-year-old sister Romy called him twice in quick succession, according to the Daily Mail. Rob and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death at their Brentwood home.

Earlier this month:

Nick Reiner entered a not guilty plea in Los Angeles Superior Court to two counts of first-degree murder.

Before the interview:

Jake published an essay about his grief, the New York Post reported, and testified in the case.

August 27:

Jake's first sit-down television interview since the killings airs.

Reactions

Jake described losing more than half his immediate family at once — his parents to the killings, his brother to jail — leaving him and Romy to handle the aftermath.

He said his parents had "unconditional love for all three" of their children and "never stopped wanting to help" Nick.

He said his grief has hardened into "anger" and "rage" over something he could not control or prevent. USA Today reported he called the deaths "unfair."

Coverage of the interview has split on emphasis. Left-leaning outlets including The Cut and Rolling Stone led on Jake's grief and his parents' refusal to give up on Nick; right-leaning outlets including the Daily Mail and the New York Post gave more space to Nick's legal maneuvering and what he may face at sentencing.

What's Next

Nick Reiner has a pretrial hearing on the murder charges scheduled for September 15.

Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty.

A separate legal fight is pending over roughly $1.6 million in family trust funds that Nick wants to use to pay for his defense.

Jake said he plans to attend the Children's Institute Cape and Gown Gala on November 8 in his parents' place.

More

Rob Reiner, the director of "This Is Spinal Tap" and "When Harry Met Sally," was one of Hollywood's most vocal liberal political activists. The case has drawn heavy national coverage since the killings, with eight outlets across the ideological spectrum covering the interview.

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