Los Angeles County prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, despite accusing him of the first-degree murder of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s decision was influenced in part by the couple’s opposition to capital punishment, according to people with direct knowledge of the case.
Another consideration was the impact a death sentence could have on Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy. They are understood to be opposed to their brother, and have decided not to fund his defence, but would face difficult circumstances if his execution became part of the case.
Prosecutors are continuing to pursue a first-degree murder charge with the special circumstance of lying in wait. If convicted, Reiner could still receive a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
The decision also reflects California’s current position on capital punishment. In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an order halting the death penalty for 737 planned executions.
Mr Newsom said at the time that capital punishment was “unevenly and unfairly applied to people of color, people with mental disabilities, and people who cannot afford costly legal representation.”
No one has been executed on California’s death row since 2006, although death sentences have continued to be handed down in recent years.
Reiner was arrested over allegations that he murdered his parents inside their Los Angeles mansion on December 14 2025.
