At a Glance
- Nanon Williams has spent 34 years in prison for a murder he says he did not commit
- Rob and Michele Reiner became his “family” after seeing his story in 2016
- Their children, Romy and Jake, emailed Williams on January 4 pledging continued support
- Why it matters: The next generation vows to finish their parents’ mission to exonerate Williams
One month after Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead in their Los Angeles home, Nanon Williams received two emails that both lifted and broke his heart. The messages came from Jake, 34, and Romy, 29-children of the couple who had championed his freedom for nearly a decade.
A Bond Forged Behind Bars
Williams, 51, met the Reiners in 2016 when they attended Lyrics From Lockdown, a Los Angeles stage show inspired by his incarceration. What began as a single evening evolved into daily emails signed “I love you,” weekly phone calls, and a promise to help secure his release through Georgetown University’s Making an Exoneree program.
The relationship turned silent after December 14, when Rob and Michele were murdered. Their youngest son, Nick, 32, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Letters From the Next Generation
On January 4, the silence ended.
“I got two emails, one from Jake and one from Romy,” Williams tells News Of Losangeles. “They’re their parents’ children. I know that they’re going through probably the toughest moment they’ll ever go through in their lives, but they’re still expressing that, ‘Hey, we’re family. We’re standing by you. We’re going to be here forever, and we love you very much.'”
Williams describes the siblings-especially Romy-as private people who opened up about their loss:
- They feel they “lost their brother as well” when Nick was arrested
- They detailed exactly how they’re coping
- They reassured Williams that the fight for his freedom remains a family priority
Bittersweet Relief
Reading the notes triggered conflicting emotions.
“It made me smile to hear from them, but at the same time, it made tears fall, because I know what they’re going through,” Williams says. Multiple sources confirm Romy discovered her parents’ bodies, a horror Williams tries not to imagine.
He sees the same resilience in the siblings that he once saw in their parents:
- Romy’s and Jake’s letters blend strength and vulnerability
- Despite grief, they continue showing love-their parents’ trademark
- They refuse to let the tragedy derail the exoneration effort
A Legacy of Leadership
Williams calls Rob “a leader” and emphasizes that Michele “wasn’t his sidekick; she was his partner.” He predicts Romy and Jake will carry that same leadership forward, noting “many people already know that.”
The Georgetown Making an Exoneree program, which pairs undergraduates with potentially wrongfully convicted individuals, continues to investigate Williams’ case. The Reiner children’s renewed pledge ensures the family’s involvement will outlast the parents’ deaths.
Key Takeaways
- Nanon Williams has maintained his innocence for 34 years
- The Reiners’ advocacy began in 2016 and now spans generations
- Romy and Jake Reiner emailed Williams on January 4 to reaffirm support
- Their brother Nick, 32, stands accused of their parents’ murders
- Georgetown’s Making an Exoneree program still actively pursues Williams’ exoneration
