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Details emerge about Nick Reiner's tense conversation with Bill Hader at Conan O'Brien's party before being asked to leave
New details are emerging about the final public appearance of filmmaker Rob Reiner, his wife Michele Singer Reiner, and their son Nick Reiner, who were all present at a holiday party hosted by Conan O’Brien the night before the couple were found dead in their Los Angeles home.
Multiple sources speaking to NBC News say Nick Reiner’s behavior at the Saturday night gathering raised concerns among both his parents and other guests. Attendees reportedly described the atmosphere around Nick as tense and uncomfortable, with several moments drawing attention during the event.
Guests say interaction with Bill Hader caused unease
One source told NBC News that Nick had an unsettling interaction with comedian and filmmaker Bill Hader. According to the account, Hader was engaged in a private conversation with another guest when Nick interrupted. When Hader informed him that the conversation was private, Nick allegedly stood still, stared at him, and then “stormed off.”
The source said the moment left those nearby visibly unsettled and added to growing concern about Nick’s state of mind throughout the evening.
Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images.
Parents reportedly upset and concerned about son’s health
Another source told NBC News that Rob and Michele Reiner were “upset and embarrassed” by their son’s conduct during the party. The source added that the couple privately expressed worries about Nick’s health while at the event.
Separate reporting from PEOPLE earlier in the week cited sources who said Nick and his father became involved in a loud and heated argument during the party. One guest recalled that Nick was “freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous.” According to TMZ, Rob and Michele left the party shortly after the argument.
Discovery of bodies and arrest of Nick Reiner
Rob and Michele Reiner, who married in 1989 after meeting while Rob was directing When Harry Met Sally…, were found dead Sunday afternoon at their Brentwood home. Their youngest child, daughter Romy Reiner, 27, discovered the scene and contacted authorities.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Department said officers responded at approximately 3:40PM to a death investigation call and found the couple deceased.
“As a result of the initial investigation, it was determined that the Reiners were the victims of homicide,” the statement said. “The investigation further revealed that Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Robert and Michele Reiner, was responsible for their deaths.”
Police later located Nick Reiner and arrested him at approximately 9:15PM Sunday night.
Nick Reiner was arrested by the LAPD. Credit: @lapd_gnd/Instagram.
Court proceedings and potential charges
Nick Reiner was expected to appear in court Tuesday morning but did not do so. According to The New York Times, his attorney, Alan Jackson, told reporters that Nick had not yet been medically cleared to be transferred from jail to the courthouse, resulting in the hearing being postponed.
Later Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that Nick Reiner would be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents. If convicted, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors have also indicated that the death penalty remains a possibility, though California has been under a gubernatorial moratorium since 2019.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to examine the events leading up to the killings.