Nick Reiner was under a court-ordered mental health conservatorship from 2020 to 2021, five years before he was charged with murdering his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, according to a new report.
At a Glance
- Nick Reiner, 32, was in a mental health conservatorship from 2020-2021
- He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Dec. 14 deaths of Rob, 78, and Michele, 70
- Licensed fiduciary Steven Baer served as his conservator and called the situation “a horrible tragedy”
- Why it matters: The disclosure sheds light on Nick’s long-documented mental health struggles prior to the killings
The New York Times revealed the conservatorship details on January 15, 2026, the same day Jonathan P. Miller reported the development for News Of Losangeles.
Conservatorship Details Emerge
Steven Baer, a licensed fiduciary, was appointed conservator for Nick during the one-year period. Baer told The Times that mental illness “is an epidemic that is widely misunderstood, and this is a horrible tragedy.”
The conservatorship ended in 2021. No further details about its terms or the specific conditions that prompted it were disclosed in the report.
The Night of the Killings
Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead inside their Los Angeles home on December 14, 2025. Nick was arrested later that night and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
The couple’s bodies were discovered in the residence they shared. Law enforcement has not released information about the cause of death or any potential motive.
Court Proceedings
Nick appeared in court on December 17, three days after his arrest. His then-attorney Alan Jackson declined to enter a plea on his behalf.
During a subsequent hearing on January 7, Jackson announced he was withdrawing from the case. The court appointed public defenders to represent Nick moving forward. The L.A. County public defender’s office declined to comment on the conservatorship report.
Nick was initially placed on suicide watch while being held in a high-observation mental health unit at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles.
Family’s Public Statement
A spokesperson for the Reiner family released a statement on January 7 saying family members “have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings.”
The statement came as Nick’s siblings, Jake, 34, and Romy, 28, were processing their parents’ deaths. In their own statement shared December 17, they described the “horrific and devastating loss of our parents” and said, “Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day.”
The siblings emphasized their close relationship with their parents: “They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”
Previous Struggles with Addiction
Nick has been open about his substance abuse issues for over a decade. During interviews promoting his 2016 semi-autobiographical film “Being Charlie,” he discussed his troubled past.
He revealed he had been in and out of rehabilitation facilities more than 18 times by age 22. His addiction struggles began during his teenage years and continued into adulthood.
The film, which he wrote and starred in, was loosely based on his experiences with addiction and his relationship with his famous father.
Family Dynamics
Despite Nick’s ongoing challenges, those close to the family described them as tightly bonded. A source previously told News Of Losangeles that the Reiners “were such a tight-knit family” who “did everything together.”
However, the insider acknowledged the difficulties: “they could never reach stability with Nick. They tried everything – giving him space, keeping him close – but his struggles are so deep. It’s just a parent’s worst nightmare. They were such lovely people and tried in every way to help their son.”
Investigation Status
The Los Angeles Police Department has not released additional details about the investigation. News Of Losangeles reached out to a representative for the Reiner family for comment on the conservatorship revelation but has not received a response.
The case remains in the pre-trial phase as Nick’s new legal team prepares his defense. No trial date has been set.
Key Takeaways
- Nick Reiner’s mental health conservatorship from 2020-2021 predates the December 2025 killings
- His conservator, Steven Baer, emphasized the tragedy of untreated mental illness
- The Reiner family has maintained public silence on legal proceedings while expressing trust in the judicial process
- Nick’s history of addiction and mental health challenges spans over a decade
- His siblings continue to mourn the loss of their parents, who they described as their “best friends”
