Los Angeles DA Will Not Seek Death Penalty For Nick Reiner In Parents' Killings
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Tuesday that prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against 33-year-old Nick Reiner, who is charged with killing his parents in Los Angeles.[1]
Hochman said his office conducted a "rigorous" review of aggravating and mitigating factors and consulted law enforcement and Reiner's siblings, Jake and Romi, before reaching the decision.[1] The grand jury indicted Reiner in July 2026 on two counts of first-degree murder with special allegations he lay in wait; he pleaded not guilty and faces a maximum of life without the possibility of parole if convicted.[1]
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home in December 2025.[2] Judge Sam Ohta said he will hold a hearing next month on whether to unseal grand jury transcripts, and Hochman told the court the DA's office would not oppose their release.[2] Jake and Romi Reiner told the court they strongly oppose unsealing the transcripts, arguing release would exacerbate their trauma.[2]
In a separate civil filing, Reiner asked a judge to release funds from a trust his parents created so he can rehire former defense attorney Alan Jackson.[2] The trustees oppose the request and a ruling is pending.[2] California has not carried out an execution in about two decades and Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in 2019, meaning Reiner could not be executed even if sentenced to death.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a press briefing that prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against 33-year-old Nick Reiner, who is charged with killing his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. (Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman)
- Hochman said the office conducted a "rigorous" review of aggravating and mitigating factors and consulted with law enforcement and Reiner's siblings, Jake and Romy, before reaching the decision. (rigorous review)
- Reiner was indicted by a Los Angeles County grand jury in July 2026 on two counts of first-degree murder with special allegations that he was lying in wait; he has pleaded not guilty. (indicted by a Los Angeles County grand jury in July 2026)
- Because prosecutors are not pursuing the death penalty, Reiner now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. (life in prison without the possibility of parole)
- At a pretrial hearing on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Judge Sam Ohta said he will hold a hearing next month on whether to unseal grand jury transcripts; Hochman relayed Jake and Romy's request to keep them sealed while the DA's office also said it would not oppose their release. (Judge Sam Ohta)
- Reiner's siblings, Jake and Romi Reiner, told the court they strongly oppose unsealing the grand jury transcripts, arguing release would exacerbate their trauma. (Jake and Romi Reiner)
- In a parallel civil matter, Reiner has asked another judge to order release of funds from a trust his parents created so he can rehire former defense attorney Alan Jackson; the trustees oppose the request and a ruling is pending. (Alan Jackson)
- Hochman said that because of the volume of discovery and ongoing legal proceedings, he does not expect Reiner's murder trial to begin until at least 2027. (Reiner's murder trial)
- Reporters noted that California has not carried out an execution in about two decades and that Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed a death-penalty moratorium in 2019, meaning Reiner could not have been executed even if sentenced to death. (Gov. Gavin Newsom)
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a news conference that his office will not pursue the death penalty against 33-year-old Nick Reiner for the December 2025 stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Singer Reiner, in their Los Angeles home.
- Hochman said the office reached its decision after a thorough review that included speaking with members of both families and weighing mitigating factors in Nick Reiner's favor.
- Judge Sam Ohta said on September 15, 2026, that he will hold a hearing next month on whether to unseal grand jury transcripts in the case, and Hochman stated the DA's office will not oppose their release.
- Nick Reiner's siblings, Jake and Romi Reiner, are strongly opposed to unsealing the grand jury transcripts, arguing it would exacerbate their trauma.
- In a parallel civil matter, Reiner is asking another judge to order release of funds from a trust his parents created so he can rehire former defense attorney Alan Jackson; trustees oppose releasing the money, and a ruling is pending.
- Hochman said he does not expect Reiner's murder trial to begin until 2027.
- The article confirms that California has not carried out an execution in about two decades and that Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed a death-penalty moratorium in 2019, meaning Reiner could not have been executed even if sentenced to death.
- On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a press briefing that prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against 33-year-old Nick Reiner, who is charged with killing his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
- Hochman stated that the office conducted a "rigorous" review of aggravating and mitigating factors before deciding against capital punishment and consulted with law enforcement and Reiner's siblings, Jake and Romy.
- Reiner was indicted by a Los Angeles County grand jury in July 2026 on two counts of first-degree murder with special allegations that he was lying in wait; he previously pleaded not guilty.
- Because prosecutors are not pursuing death, Reiner now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
- At a pretrial hearing on September 15, 2026, concerning whether to unseal grand jury transcripts, Hochman relayed statements from Jake and Romy Reiner asking the court to keep the transcripts sealed to avoid further trauma.
- Hochman told the court that due to the volume of discovery and ongoing legal proceedings, a trial is not expected to begin until at least 2027.