Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
Nick Reiner Smirks in Court As His Famous Attorney Walks off The Case | Crime Alert Recap 01.10.2026
10 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Crime Alert, hourly update, breaking crime news now. I'm Jennifer Gould. The high-stakes murder trial of Hollywood heir Nick Reiner descended into absolute chaos Wednesday when his celebrity defense attorney abruptly dumped his client in open court, leaving the accused double killer to face a double murder rap with a public defender. The judge then addressed him in court.
Do you waive your right to be arraigned today so that your matter may be continued to February 23rd, 2026 for arraignment?
Nick, the 32-year-old son of legendary director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, sat in standard jail scrubs and let out an eerie, chilling smirk as his legal powerhouse, Alan Jackson, announced he had, quote-unquote, no choice but to walk away from the case.
The courtroom shakeup sent shockwaves through the Stanley Mosque courthouse just as Reiner was slated to be arraigned for the grisly December 2025 slaughter of his parents.
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Chapter 2: What happened in Nick Reiner's courtroom chaos?
Jackson, who has represented Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and who recently most famously secured an acquittal for Karen Reed, held a frantic closed-door meeting with the judge before emerging to announce his departure.
Outside the courthouse, Jackson hinted at a massive internal fracture, stating that, quote-unquote, circumstances beyond Nick's control made it impossible to continue, and that although he's removing himself from the case, he continues to back Nick's innocence. Listen.
What we've learned—and you can take this to the bank— is that pursuant to the laws of this state, pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that. Print that.
Insiders whisper that the Reiner family may have pulled the huge plug on the millions in legal fees required to keep a top-tier firm on the case. The details of the crime remain stomach-churning. Rob, 78, and Michelle, 70, were reportedly found with their throats slit in their beds hours after a heated holiday blowout at comedian Conan O'Brien's home.
Prosecutors allege Nick, a troubled drug addict with 17 stints in rehab, snapped and carried out a frenzied knife attack so violent it left the Brentwood mansion looking like a blood-drenched war zone. Nick's sister, Romy Reiner, found her dead parents after a massage therapist was left waiting outside the Reiner gate with no response from inside.
Nick was arrested a few hours later, 20 minutes away from the crime scene. was a powder keg years in the making. Records reveal the LAPD had been called to the Reiner residence at least six times since 2013 and two times in 2019 for family violence, mental health crises, and welfare checks.
Despite a decade of domestic terror and drug use, the parents allowed Nick to live in a guest house on the property. While Reiner's new public defender, Kimberly Green, scrambles to catch up, Los Angeles D.A. Nathan Hockman made it clear the state is eyeing the death penalty for the multiple murder special circumstances case.
At his first court appearance last month, Nick was forced to wear a blue suicide smock, but he's since been taken off suicide watch. As the 32-year-old stares down a potential needle, Reiner remains held without bail with his next date with destiny set for February 23rd.
Harvey Weinstein is considering a guilty plea to address an unresolved rape charge and potentially avoid a third trial in New York, as mentioned by a judge on Thursday. During discussions about a possible plea, the fallen film executive remained defiant, stating in court, I acknowledge my unfaithfulness and wrongful actions, but I have never assaulted anyone.
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Chapter 3: Why did Nick Reiner's attorney abandon the case?
At trial, Weinstein's defense argued that the women involved accepted his advances in hopes of securing work in the entertainment industry, later falsely accusing him for financial gain and publicity. The split verdict last June was unusual as several jurors requested to address the judge about tensions within the jury. In a series of exchanges, one juror reported feeling ostracized by others.
The foreperson referenced jurors discussing Weinstein's past inappropriately, and another juror claimed discussions were progressively positive.
The foreperson later returned to the judge to express concerns over being pressured to change their stance, stating they feared for their safety after a fellow juror threatened, Judge Farber highlighted the confidentiality of juror discussions and reminded jurors not to disclose their proceedings.
Since the trial, Weinstein's legal team has spoken to the first juror who raised concerns and another who remained silent. In sworn statements, both expressed disbelief in Weinstein's guilt but conceded to peer pressure from aggressive jurors. One juror recalled feeling threatened after an insult regarding her intelligence and said, finally, I just gave in.
Weinstein's lawyers argue that the tensions constituted threats that tainted the deliberation process. asserting that was unfair for his client. Prosecutors contend that the judge was made aware of only isolated instances of contentious interactions which, quote, can be normal among jurors. Currently held in New York, Weinstein is also appealing a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles.
A father in Tennessee is speaking publicly after investigators say a mother killed her two young sons and their grandmother before taking her own life. Investigators with the Humphreys County Sheriff's Office say four people were found dead Friday morning during a welfare check at a home on East Little Richland Avenue.
Authorities believe 32-year-old Heather Thompson shot her two young sons and her grandmother before taking her own life. The victims were identified as 4-year-old Arias Thompson, 13-year-old Isaiah Johnson, and 88-year-old Evelyn Johnson. Jeremiah Thompson is Arias' biological father and Isaiah's stepfather. He says he has been part of Isaiah's life since the boy was a baby.
He and Heather were separated but still talked every day. When he first received the call that his family was gone, He misunderstood.
And I thought, like, they all moved away, which blew my mind because my wife and I, we were going to get a house out here.
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