Rob Reiner and his wife Michele's children Jake and Romy Reiner have broken their silence over the "unimaginable pain" they are experiencing following their parents' murder.
"Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day," their 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 pair continued: "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. 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."
On Sunday, December 14, the beloved Hollywood power couple was found dead at their Brentwood, Los Angeles home, reportedly by their daughter Romy. Theyhad both been stabbed to death, and their son Nick, 32, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
He is being held in jail without bail, but made a brief appearance in court on Wednesday, December 17, after failing to be medically cleared for his court appearance the day prior, according to his lawyer.
It has been reported that Nick was living in his parents' guest house, and the evening of their deaths, they invited him to join them at a holiday party hosted by Conan O'Brien, also attended by Jane Fonda and Bill Hader, as they were worried for his wellbeing and leaving him alone. He is said to have left the party early after getting into an argument with his father, and later that evening the attack took place.
Nick's lawyer Alan Jackson, who has previously represented accused sex offenders Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, has asked the public to treat the matter with respect. "Not with rushed judgment, not with jumping to conclusions, but with restraint, and with dignity, and with the respect that this system and this process deserves and the family deserves," the attorney said outside the courthouse.
Nick's arraignment has been set for January 7, 2026.
Rob's daughter Tracy has also spoken out, telling NBC News that she was "in shock".
"I came from the greatest family ever,” the 61-year-old said. Rob adopted Tracy during his marriage to the late Penny Marshall, who died in 2018.
Rob and Michele married in 1989 and welcomed three children: Jake, Nick and Romy.
Nick;s struggles with addiction and mental health concerns have long been documented. His first rehab stints began as early as 15-years-old, and he has also been unhoused at times.
In 2016, he wrote a screenplay called Being Charlie, partly inspired by his life. The film was directed by Rob and the story followed a man named Charlie and his own struggles with drug abuse, and a difficult relationship with his successful, famous father.
Rob directed some of the most famous movies of the 1980s including When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and Stand By Me.
Michele and Rob were also producers, and their influence extended through their production work, shaping the landscape of modern American comedy and drama.
Tributes poured in for the pair, including from former first lady Michelle Obama, who revealed she and her husband Barack Obama had plans to see Rob and Michele on Sunday before they received news of their deaths.
"We've known them for many many years, and we were supposed to be seeing them that night – last night, and we got the news," Michelle told Jimmy Kimmel on his TV show.
In response to President Donald Trump's shocking tirade against Rob in the hours after his death, Michelle added: "What they have always been are passionate people who – in a time when there's not a lot of courage going on – they were the kind of people who were ready to put their actions behind what they cared about.
"And they cared about their family. And they cared about this country. And they cared about fairness and equity. And that is the truth."