Nick Reiner, accused of murdering his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has been refused access to the $1.5 million US trust fund he had hoped to use for his legal defense. The request for allegedly unpaid funds from a trust set up for him in 1993 was turned down by trustees, citing the California “slayer statute,” which prohibits individuals who have intentionally killed someone from inheriting money or property.
Rob Reiner, a renowned director and actor, and his wife, Michele, a photographer and producer, were fatally stabbed in their California home on December 14, 2025. Nick Reiner, their son, was arrested hours later and indicted on murder charges on July 20. Despite pleading not guilty, the grand jury indictment suggests that Reiner planned the attack on his parents, potentially facing the death penalty based on the circumstances.
Scheduled for a pretrial hearing in September, Reiner is currently represented by public defender Kimberly Greene. The filing revealed that individual trust funds were set up for the Reiner children, with Nick entitled to half at 30 and the remainder at 35. Alleging denial of access to his rightful funds, Reiner claimed he had not received the money owed to him at 30.
A high-profile lawyer, Alan Jackson, initially retained for Reiner’s defense, left without explanation, leading to Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, withdrawing their agreement to cover legal expenses. The trust fund, valued at a minimum of $1.5 million US, remains inaccessible pending resolution of the criminal case and the application of the “slayer statute” principles.
Paul R. Kanin and Jodi Pais Montgomery, overseeing the trust fund, deemed it premature to distribute funds due to the ongoing criminal proceedings against Reiner. With the public still in the dark about many details surrounding the case, and authorities refraining from speculating on motives, Jake Reiner expressed the unimaginable pain of losing both parents simultaneously in a heartfelt Substack essay.
Remembered for his illustrious film career, Rob Reiner directed iconic movies like “The Princess Bride” and “A Few Good Men.” His marriage to Michele, whom he met while filming “When Harry Met Sally,” lasted 36 years before the tragic incident.