The eldest son of American filmmaker Rob Reiner, Jake, confided on Friday to living a “waking nightmare” since the death of his parentsstabbed to death by his brother Nick four months ago.
“Losing a parent is always devastating, but nothing compares to losing both parents at the same time, and, to top it off, with your own brother at the heart of it all,” he wrote in his first reaction since the double homicide that shocked Hollywood.
Vibrant tribute
Rob Reiner, renowned filmmaker to whom we owe notably “When Harry Met Sally” and “Men of Honor”, was found lifeless on December 14 in his villa in the upscale Brentwood district of Los Angeles. Just like his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
Their younger son, Nick, known for his mental health issues and history of substance abuse, is accused of stabbing them to death. Prosecuted for murder, he risks life imprisonment or even the death penalty – which is not formally abolished in California, despite a moratorium on capital executions.
“I still wake up every morning having to convince myself that no, it’s not a dream. This is truly my waking nightmare,” added his brother Jake, in his message published on Substack. The 34-year-old actor took the opportunity to pay a vibrant tribute to his parents, explaining that his mother had always been his “confidante”, and his father his “hero”.
Provisional detention
“I can’t even imagine what my parents must have felt, but one thing that keeps coming to my mind is how scared they must have been,” he said. According to him, the couple have always shown “truly unconditional” love towards his brother Nick, his sister Romy and himself.
“They were the last people in the world to deserve what happened to them,” he insisted. They deserved to be loved, they deserved to be respected, and most importantly, they deserved to be appreciated for everything they gave to the three of us and to the world.”
Currently in pre-trial detention, Nick Reiner pleads not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing next Wednesday, with a court-appointed attorney. The youngest of the family lived in an outbuilding on his parents’ property. The day before the murders, he allegedly disrupted a party organized by comedian Conan O’Brien, where he was invited with them, according to American media. He allegedly had a violent argument with his father there.
