Executive Summary
- A judge has sealed the autopsy reports for Rob and Michele Reiner at the request of the LAPD.
- Police cited the need to protect sensitive information relevant to the Robbery-Homicide Division’s investigation.
- Previous findings confirmed the cause of death as multiple sharp force injuries.
- The couple’s son, Nick Reiner, is held without bail on suspicion of first-degree murder.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has issued an order blocking the public release of autopsy reports for Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), citing the necessity of preserving the integrity of the ongoing homicide investigation. The order restricts access to details, photographs, and reports regarding the deaths of the couple, who were found deceased in their home earlier this month.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that the court order prohibits the dissemination of the autopsy findings. Consequently, the couple’s case files have been removed from the Medical Examiner’s public database. In a statement, the LAPD explained that the request was made to "ensure detectives from Robbery-Homicide Division learned of important information surrounding their deaths before the media and the public." Authorities emphasized that the measure was not intended to undermine transparency but to protect critical investigative details.
Prior to the sealing of the records, medical examiner reports indicated that both victims died from "multiple sharp force injuries." According to death certificates, Rob Reiner’s time of death was listed prior to his wife’s, with her marital status recorded as "widowed." While the deputy coroner noted that both individuals died within minutes of sustaining injuries, the specific time the fatal wounds were inflicted remains listed as "unknown." The couple was cremated on December 19.
Law enforcement and prosecutors allege that the couple’s 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, fatally stabbed his parents in the master bedroom of their home during the early morning hours. Following his arrest on December 14 on suspicion of first-degree murder, Nick Reiner remains in custody without bail.
Investigative Procedures and Legal Status
The sealing of autopsy reports in high-profile homicide cases is a procedural tactic often employed to withhold "hold-back evidence"—specific details known only to the perpetrator and investigators—to verify witness statements or confessions. As the investigation proceeds, the suspect is scheduled to be arraigned on January 7. It is important to note that all individuals, including Nick Reiner, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
