Nick Reiner's arraignment postponed after making 1st court appearance

LOS ANGELES - Nick Reiner made his first court appearance Tuesday after being charged with the murders of his parents, legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. 

Their stabbing deaths sent shockwaves through multiple communities, including Hollywood and in Washington D.C., as heartfelt tributes poured in from celebrities and politicians. 

RELATED: 

• ‘Stunned’: Jane Fonda shares she saw Rob and Michele Reiner night before murders
• Rob Reiner: Hollywood reacts to legendary filmmaker's death

Charges filed against Nick Reiner

What we know:

Nick Reiner was expected to enter a plea in a downtown LA courtroom on Wednesday, which marked his first court appearance since being charged in the stabbing death of his parents. 

During his appearance, he waived the right to a speedy arraignment and his official arraignment was postponed because the defense is still gathering information, officials said. His face was not allowed to be shown during the hearing. 

FOX 11's Christina Gonzalez was inside the courtroom and described him as being "disheveled." Nick Reiner, who was on suicide watch Tuesday, was wearing a suicide jumpsuit. She also said he spoke very softly. 

Mona Shafer Edwards released the following sketches to FOX 11. 

This comes the day after the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced the 32-year-old was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. 

Along with the murder charges, prosecutors added special circumstances of multiple murders and a special allegation that the defendant used a dangerous weapon, a knife. The additions could mean a greater sentence.

LA County DA Nathan Hochman has not made a decision on whether to pursue the death penalty. 

Prosecutors have called this case "one of the most difficult" when the victims and suspect are members of the same family. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nick Reiner charged with parents' murders

Nick Reiner’s initial court date delayed

Nick Reiner initial court appearance Tuesday was postponed after he wasn't given medical clearance. 

"Every single inmate goes through a medical clearance before they can be transported to court and that's a process. It's just a procedural issue, and he has not yet been medically cleared," his attorney, Alan Jackson, said. 

The high-profile attorney has represented Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.

"With him not being medically clear to get on the bus can be one of a few things. There may be some kind of mental health episode occurring, either where he is refusing to get on the boss or he needs to be seen by a psychiatrist," explained Lauren Johnson-Norris, an attorney who is not in the Reiner case. 

Rob Reiner's legendary career

Rob Reiner’s career spanned decades as an actor, director, producer, screenwriter and political activist. 

He starred in the ‘70s sitcom "All in the Family" and directed classics such as "Stand by Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," and "A Few Good Men." 

He directed the 2015 movie "Being Charlie," which Nick co-wrote. It's a semi-autobiographical film that gives a glimpse into Nick's battle with substance abuse. 

The backstory:

The 32-year-old, who was living with his parents, was arrested on suspicion of murder after his parents were killed at their Brentwood home over the weekend. 

The couple, 78-year-old Rob Reiner and 68-year-old Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead Sunday afternoon by their daughter, Romy. Investigators said Nick was not at the home when officers arrived, and detectives believe he left sometime after the attacks. 

He was then located and arrested in LA’s Exposition Park area, near the University of Southern California, on Sunday evening. His arrest took place about 14 miles from the crime scene. 

Photos of the arrest were released by LAPD's Gang and Narcotics Division and on Wednesday, newly released surveillance footage showed Nick Reiner in the moments before his arrest.

RELATED: Reiner murders: Video shows Nick Reiner moments before arrest

New details emerge

The night before the killings, sources reported that Nick got into a heated argument with his father at Conan O'Brien's holiday party. A witness told FOX 11 the couple's son had been acting "oddly" that night. 

Hours later, Nick Reiner reportedly checked into a Santa Monica hotel around 4 a.m., with hotel staff alleging they found blood in his shower and on his mattress. 

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Rob Reiner and son Nick had argument at Conan O’Brien party before parents' death, sources say
• Nick Reiner's Santa Monica hotel room 'full of blood' amid Rob Reiner, Michele Reiner's deaths: TMZ

What's next:

Nick Reiner's official arraignment has been postponed to Jan. 7, 2026. He continues to be held without bail. 

Dig deeper:

This marks the fifth alleged case of patricide to occur in Southern California recently. 

The son of Grammy-nominated singer, Jubilant Sykes, was charged with murder last week. 

Also, officials said radiologist Dr. Eric Cordes, 63, and his wife Vicki Cordes, 66, were gunned down in their driveway by their son late last month. 

RELATED:

• Son of singer Jubilant Sykes charged with his murder
• Simi Valley doctor and wife gunned down in driveway by their own son, police say
• Argument between father and son turns deadly

In addition, 47-year-old Juan Gonzalez was arrested on suspicion of killing his 70-year-old father in Perris. And in Lake Balboa, 30-year-old Joshua Bonilla allegedly stabbed his 62-year-old father to death.