Who is Nick Reiner? Rob Reiner and Michele Singer's son reportedly responsible for parents' deaths

Authorities found the couple dead at their Brentwood home, with sources identifying their son as the suspect

Nick Reiner is one of four children of film-maker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead at their Brentwood home on Sunday, December 14, as police investigations continue.

Reports following the couple’s deaths have drawn attention to Nick Reiner’s past, including his long public history of substance abuse and periods of homelessness. PEOPLE reported that the couple were killed by their son, although law enforcement has not confirmed those claims.

Nick Reiner was born on September 14, 1993 and is the second son of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, who were married for 35 years. The family also includes sons Jake and Nick, daughter Romy, and Tracy Marshall, Rob Reiner’s daughter from his marriage to the late Penny Marshall.

In interviews, Nick Reiner has described struggling with addiction from his teenage years. Around the age of 15, he entered rehabilitation for the first time and later underwent more than a dozen treatment stays. Speaking in 2016, he said, “I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas. I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun.”

He explained that his homelessness followed his decision not to re-enter rehabilitation programmes. “If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless,” he said.

During this period, Nick turned to writing and co-wrote the screenplay for Being Charlie, a film loosely based on his experiences. The film was directed by Rob Reiner, who described it as his most personal work. Promoting the film, Nick said, “When I was out there, I could’ve died. It’s all luck.”

Nick has also spoken candidly about his relationship with his father, saying in 2016 that they “didn’t bond a lot” while he was growing up. He later said working together helped him feel closer, while Rob Reiner described his son as “the heart and soul of the film.”