Rob Reiner's son arrested after famed director, wife found stabbed to death in LA home

BRENTWOOD, LOS ANGELES -- The son of famed director Rob Reiner remains in custody after the stabbing death of Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, inside their Brentwood home on Sunday.

Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested on Sunday night and is being held without bail, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He has been moved to Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown L.A.

Watch the ABC News Special, "The Rob Reiner Story: A Hollywood Tragedy," on ABC Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT, and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell confirmed Nick Reiner's arrest and stated that he is the suspect in this double murder. He was relatively tight-lipped on the case to protect the investigation.

"We have our robbery homicide division handling the investigation. They worked throughout the night on this case and were able to take into custody Nick Reiner," McDonnell said at an unrelated press conference involving the FBI on Monday.

According to law enforcement sources, Nick Reiner was not at home when his parents were found dead. Investigators believe he left at some point after the stabbings. Sources tell ABC News that the LAPD was able to quickly find him near the University of Southern California, where he was arrested for murder.

ABC's Alex Stone reports from Brentwood on the Reiner murders, where we're learning more about the first several hours of the investigation and where things stand Monday night.

Firefighters responded at 3:38 p.m. Sunday to a medical aid call at a home in the 250 block of Chadbourne Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The deceased were initially identified only as a man and woman ages 78 and 68 years old, the fire department said.

Sources say the couple's daughter was the one who found them. A search warrant for the Reiner's home was quickly sought.

"They make sure that you get the search warrant ahead of time because they don't want to have any problems later in the case if there's some allegation that they illegally got the evidence at the get-go of an investigation," L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.

Nick Reiner was taken into custody several hours after the bodies were found and booked on the murder charges around 5 a.m. Monday.

Timeline of Rob Reiner and wife's stabbing deaths

Investigators have been interviewing all of the Reiner family's immediate members, trying to understand Nick Reiner's standing in the family and relationship with his parents. The 32-year-old has a history of drug abuse problems and had been vocal in the past about being homeless and addicted, leading to a film loosely based on his struggles - "Being Charlie." Rob Reiner directed the 2015 movie "Being Charlie." Nick co-wrote the film.

Sources tell ABC News Rob and Nick Reiner got into an argument Saturday night at a holiday party. At the party, Nick was seen acting strangely.

"This is a devastating loss for our city and our country," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. "Rob Reiner's contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice."

As word spread of the slayings of director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer, fans in Hollywood mourned the late couple.

Remembering the career of Rob Reiner

Rob Reiner came from a family that helped propel him to Hollywood fame. The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner and singer Estelle Lebost, Rob is known for massive Hollywood hits, including "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," "Stand By Me," "This is Spinal Tap" and many more.

Rob Reiner, the son of a comedy giant who went on to become one, himself, as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation with movies such as "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally ..." and "This Is Spinal Tap," has died.

Rob first became famous on the Norman Lear television sitcom "All in the Family."

"The Lear Family is devastated by the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner," the family said in a statement on Sunday night. "Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world."

"Lyn Lear had remained very close with them and said, 'The world is unmistakably darker tonight, and we are left bereft,'" the statement added.

Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed Reiner's death, saying he is "heartbroken by the tragic loss."

"His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others - and encouraging us to dream bigger," Newsom said in a statement. "Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity."

The couple got married in 1989 and share three children, Jake, Nick and Romy.

Rob was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Carl Reiner died in 2020 at age 98 and Marshall died in 2018.

ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.