The cause of death for acclaimed Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele has been officially confirmed as 'multiple sharp force injuries', according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The couple were found deceased in their Brentwood mansion last Sunday.
Son Charged in Connection with Deaths
The medical update coincides with the charging of the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, with both murders. Nick appeared in a Los Angeles court for his arraignment hearing on Wednesday, where he waived his right to enter a plea. He was seen in court shackled and wearing a suicide prevention vest.
His lawyer, Alan Jackson, addressed the media outside the court, stating there were "complex and serious issues" involved and urged the public not to rush to judgement. He emphasised that nothing substantive had yet occurred in the legal proceedings.
Details of the Tragic Discovery
Authorities allege that Rob and Michele Reiner were in bed when they were killed. It is reported that their daughter, Romy, discovered her father's body at the family home. A paramedic subsequently informed her that her mother had also died.
Sources indicate the couple had their throats slit during the incident, which is believed to have occurred in the middle of the night. LAPD sources told media outlets that rigor mortis had set in, suggesting the pair had been dead for several hours before they were found.
Family's Heartbreaking Statement
In the wake of the tragedy, the Reiners' two other children, Romy and Jake, have broken their silence. They released a joint statement expressing their profound grief.
"Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day," the statement read. "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."
The siblings thanked the public for their support but appealed for privacy, asking for speculation to be tempered with compassion. They requested that their parents be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.
The family had previously confirmed the deaths in an initial statement, expressing they were "heartbroken by this sudden loss" and asking for privacy during an "unbelievably difficult time".
