Nick Reiner, accused of the murder of his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has been refused access to the $1.5 million trust fund he sought for his legal defense. In a filing from June, Reiner had been trying to claim unpaid money from a trust fund established by his parents in 1993.
Trustees, as revealed in court documents obtained by CBC News, turned down Reiner’s request for the funds, invoking a section of California law referred to as the “slayer statute.” This law prohibits individuals who have “feloniously and intentionally” killed someone from inheriting money, property, or trusts from the deceased.
Rob Reiner, a renowned director and actor, and his wife Michele, a photographer and producer, were fatally stabbed in their California residence on December 14. Following the incident, their son Nick Reiner was taken into custody. He has denied the murder charges brought against him and is set to appear in court for a pretrial hearing in September.
According to an unsealed indictment by a Los Angeles County grand jury, Reiner is alleged to have planned the attack on his parents. This, along with other circumstances, potentially makes him eligible for the death penalty, although the decision on seeking it hasn’t been finalized by District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Regarding the trust fund issue, it was stated in the June filing that individual trust funds had been set up for the Reiner children, with Nick Reiner entitled to access half of his fund at 30 and the remainder at 35. However, Reiner claimed in his petition that he had not received the funds due to him at 30, asserting that the trustees were wrongfully withholding his lawful entitlement.
Although high-profile attorney Alan Jackson was initially representing Reiner, he stepped down without explanation after a brief period. The filing disclosed that Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, initially agreed to cover their brother’s legal fees but later reversed their decision. Jackson mentioned in a statement attached to the petition that he would consider returning to the case if funds became available.
The trust fund’s overseer, Paul R. Kanin, and incoming trustee Jodi Pais Montgomery, concluded that due to the uncertainty of the criminal case against Reiner, the funds could not be distributed at present. The filing emphasized that the trust fund access hinges on the resolution of legal proceedings and any implications of the “slayer statute” principles.
As the investigation into the motives behind the tragic event continues, Jake Reiner has shared his experience of the ordeal, describing it as a “living nightmare.” He expressed the profound loss of losing both parents simultaneously and highlighted the undeserved fate that befell them.
Rob Reiner, known for his illustrious career in the film industry, directed iconic films such as “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” and “Stand By Me.” His marriage to Michele, whom he met during the filming of “When Harry Met Sally,” lasted 36 years, with the couple inspiring one another in their respective endeavors.
