The adult child of renowned Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner has been taken into custody on suspicion of murder following the couple were found deceased in their LA residence.
LA law enforcement announced on the start of the week that Nick Reiner, in his early thirties, had been detained and was in custody without the possibility of bail.
The deceased couple's 28-year-old daughter, Romy, found her parents in their home with several stab wounds on the weekend, as per reports from media sources.
Emergency Services and Official Details
First responders were dispatched to provide medical aid at the Reiners' Brentwood, California property at approximately 15:38 local time on that day.
Fire and rescue personnel said a man and a woman - later identified as the 78-year-old director, and his spouse Michele, aged 68 - were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the suspect was arrested later that evening, at about 21:15 local time. Investigators have not yet disclosed a possible reason and said the investigation is still active.
History of the Son and Family
The son has spoken publicly about his struggles with substance abuse and homelessness. His experiences served as inspiration for the partly based on his life film the movie 'Being Charlie', which he made with his father in the mid-2010s.
Their residence is in Brentwood, a wealthy celebrity enclave full of large mansions, boutique shops and restaurants. On Monday morning, a security guard was posted outside the home as media assembled outside the front gate.
Rob Reiner's Legacy
Rob Reiner, the child of comedy great Carl Reiner, started in entertainment in the mid-20th century and rose to fame playing the character Mike 'Meathead' Stivic in the classic television series 'All in the Family'.
He solidified his reputation with the iconic spoof documentary This Is Spinal Tap in the 1980s, which he directed and appeared in.
The director was married to Laverne & Shirley actress his first wife from the early 70s to the early 80s and is the adoptive father to Penny Marshall's daughter, actress Tracy Reiner.
He wed Michele in 1989, who he said he met during the making of the beloved romantic film 'When Harry Met Sally'. The couple had three children together.
The Wife's Work and Political Context
Mrs. Reiner was an actress, artist and film producer, and the founder of Reiner Light, a photo business and film production firm.
Rob Reiner was also known for his outspoken advocacy and support for Democratic candidates.
In a social media statement referring to their deaths "very sad", former President Donald Trump commented on the director, saying that they "allegedly" died "due to the anger he inspired others through his massive, relentless, and obsession" with "a term for his critics".
"It was said to have greatly agitated individuals by his intense focus of President Donald J. Trump," the message stated.
It is not clear what reports the former president was citing, and while the case is being treated as a murder, police have yet to comment on any possible motive.
A number of political figures condemned Trump over the post, including one-time supporter a congresswoman, who said the deaths were a "family tragedy, not about partisan issues or rivals".
"Many families deal with a loved one with drug addiction and psychological struggles. It's extremely hard and should be handled with compassion especially when it ends in a violent death," she said.
The Entertainment Industry Reaction and Tributes
Trump's post were also received criticism by a number of the family's close associates.
In a post on a platform, Maria Shriver, the former first lady of California and longtime friend of the Reiners, described the couple were "caring mothers and fathers".
"Their love for all their children and they never gave up looking after them," she wrote.
Music icon Elton John, who made an appearance in this recent 'Spinal Tap' sequel, commented: "It's hard to believe at today's news of Rob and Michele.
"They were two of the most beautiful individuals I'd ever met and they deserved better."
Fellow actor the actor John Cusack, who appeared in the director's 1980s film 'The Sure Thing', called him "a great man", while actor Elijah Wood, who starred in the 1994 movie North, expressed he was "horrified" by the couple's deaths.
