Jake and Romy Reiner, two of the children of famed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, released their first statement Wednesday since the couple’s shocking deaths over the weekend.
“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” the statement, obtained by KTLA 5 News, begins. “The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”
Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Reiner, 68, were found stabbed to death inside their Brentwood home on Sunday. The couple’s middle child, Nick, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He was arrested near a public transit station close to the University of Southern California, several hours after the bodies were discovered.
His arraignment, originally scheduled for Wednesday, has been pushed back until Jan. 7. Prosecutors have not disclosed a possible motive for the couple’s killings.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life,” the statement continues. “We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.”
Rob Reiner co-starred in Norman Lear’s groundbreaking 1970s sitcom “All in the Family” before embarking on an illustrious career as director of 20th-century classics including “The Princess Bride,” “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Misery” and “When Harry Met Sally…”
Michele Reiner was a renowned Hollywood photographer and producer.
Nick Reiner, 32, who has publicly struggled with addiction for years, was the subject of a 2015 memoir and documentary detailing his battle with substance abuse.
According to multiple media reports, Rob and Nick Reiner attended a party Saturday evening at Conan O’Brien’s home, where guests said Nick behaved erratically, culminating in a shouting match with his father. The couple was found dead the next day.