Nick Reiner’s 'lying in wait' murder charge raises the stakes in Brentwood case

Nick Reiner, the son of Rob and Michele Reiner, has been indicted for the December 2025 stabbing deaths of his parents in Brentwood, adding a new ‘lying in wait’ charge that could make him eligible for the death penalty or life without parole. Prosecutors say he used a knife, and Nick has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with a weapon enhancement; a Sept. 15 pretrial hearing is set. Experts say the ‘lying in wait’ count requires evidence of planning or concealment, and the case touches on insanity-defense considerations amid California’s death-penalty moratorium.