District Attorney WON’T seek death penalty for Nick Reiner out of respect for his slain parents’ view on executions, sources say

The District Attorney (DA) prosecuting Nick Reiner over the murder of his parents will not seek the death penalty out of respect for the victims’ views on executions, sources say.

The Los Angeles County DA Nathan Hochman is not pursuing the death penalty partly because Rob and Michele Reiner were passionately against capital punishment, TMZ reports.

A source close to Hochman also claimed that Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy, were considered in the DA’s decision. 

Although the pair are not siding with their brother nor funding his defense, the insider claimed Jake and Romy would have struggled during sentencing if there was a possibility that Reiner could be executed.

Reiner, 33, is accused of fatally stabbing his parents on December 14, 2025. 

He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait.

He is due to appear for a pretrial hearing later today.

A separate hearing next month will address Reiner’s bid to access a $1.5 million trust fund to pay for his legal defense.

Reiner was arrested on December 14, 2025 after his parents’ bloodied bodies were discovered at their home in the affluent Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Rob Reiner, 79 – who directed huge hits including When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men – and his wife, Michele Singer, 70, had been stabbed to death.

Nick Reiner, who has a history of addiction, lived in a guest house on his parents’ property. 

He had attended a party at the home of comedian Conan O’Brien on December 13 with his parents, where some attendees reportedly said he had behaved erratically.

‘This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing,’ Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.

‘The indictment unsealed today also adds a special circumstance allegation that the defendant committed the murders by means of lying in wait.

‘We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice.’

Rob Reiner, the son of legendary comedian Carl Reiner, started his showbiz career in acting.

He won fame as the oafish son-in-law Michael ‘Meathead’ Stivic on groundbreaking 1970s sitcom ‘All in the Family,’ before transitioning to directing.

As a director, his output included classic films like 1984’s rock music mockumentary ‘This is Spinal Tap,’ fantasy gem ‘The Princess Bride’ from 1987, and seminal coming-of-age movie ‘Stand By Me.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Hochman for comment. 

This is a developing story.