Nick Reiner Indicted in Parents’ Murders as Prosecutors Add New ‘Lying in Wait’ Allegation

Nick Reiner is now facing an expanded murder case in connection with the deaths of his parents, filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, after a Los Angeles grand jury returned an indictment containing a new and potentially significant allegation.

The indictment, which was unsealed Wednesday, Aug. 12, charges Nick with two counts of first-degree murder in the December 2025 deaths of his parents. The new filing replaces the original murder case brought against him following the killings.

But prosecutors have now added another allegation that could significantly change the stakes of the case.

According to the indictment obtained by PEOPLE, prosecutors are alleging the murders were committed under a special circumstance described as “lying in wait.” The indictment also alleges that a knife was used in the killings.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said the new allegation reflects prosecutors’ belief that the killings involved a deliberate element of planning.

“This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing,” Hochman said in a statement.

He added that the new special circumstance allegation claims Nick committed the murders by means of lying in wait.

Nick pleaded not guilty after the indictment was unsealed.

The development represents another major turn in a case that has attracted intense attention because of the identities of the victims and their relationship to the accused.

Rob Reiner, the acclaimed actor, director and filmmaker known for projects including When Harry Met Sally…, The Princess Bride and This Is Spinal Tap, was found dead alongside his wife at their Brentwood home in Los Angeles on Dec. 14, 2025.

Prosecutors allege that Nick fatally stabbed both of his parents inside the home during the early morning hours.

He was arrested later that day near the University of Southern California campus and has remained in custody without bail.

Nick had previously pleaded not guilty to the original murder charges. With the grand jury indictment now in place, however, the case moves forward under the new charging document.

The addition of the “lying in wait” allegation is particularly significant because it suggests prosecutors intend to argue that the killings were not simply the result of a sudden confrontation.

Instead, prosecutors are alleging circumstances that could support the claim that Nick waited for an opportunity to attack his parents.

That allegation remains unproven, and Nick is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted in court.

The indictment also means that a preliminary hearing that had been expected to take place in the fall may no longer be necessary. A preliminary hearing would ordinarily provide an opportunity for a judge to determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed.

With the grand jury indictment, the prosecution has already secured the formal charging mechanism needed to move the case forward.

Nick remains incarcerated at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. His public defender, Kimberly Greene, declined to comment when contacted by PEOPLE.

His next scheduled court appearance is a pretrial hearing on Sept. 15.

Meanwhile, prosecutors still have not decided whether they will seek the death penalty. According to the district attorney’s office, that decision remains pending.

If Nick is ultimately convicted of the charges as filed, he could face death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, depending on the outcome of the case and sentencing decisions.

The new indictment therefore raises the stakes considerably as the prosecution prepares to build its case around what happened inside the Reiners’ Brentwood home and, crucially, what Nick allegedly did before the fatal attack.

For now, the prosecution’s “lying in wait” allegation is only an accusation contained in the indictment. The evidence supporting that allegation will ultimately be tested in court, where Nick’s defense will have an opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s version of events.

The case is expected to remain closely watched as it moves toward the September pretrial proceedings.