Rob and Michele Reiner’s son Nick Reiner recently walked to a hotel in Santa Monica, California, within hours of his parents’ murders.
Nick Reiner seen in surveillance footage
In new surveillance footage from a local business on the Santa Monica Pier, Nick was seen making his way toward the Pierside Santa Monica on Sunday around 4:10 a.m. The 32-year-old moved at a somewhat slow pace, according to the video obtained by TMZ.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: New footage shows Nick Reiner walking around in Santa Monica hours before his parents' dead bodies were discovered in their Brentwood home … and he's heading toward the hotel he checked into. https://t.co/uFgVeBSacJ pic.twitter.com/rl3ObaporO
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 19, 2025
The outlet reported that Nick checked into the hotel about 5 minutes later, using his own credit card.
Eyewitnesses stated that Nick appeared “tweaked out” upon arrival. However, there were no visible signs, blood on his clothes or cuts on his body, that he had been in a violent altercation.
Reports suggest that the reservation was made for just one day, but Nick never formally checked out. When housekeeping came into his room later Sunday morning, they reportedly found the shower “full of blood,” with blood also on the bed and the window covered by bedsheets.
Later that night, Nick was spotted at a gas station across from Exposition Park near Downtown LA. Surveillance footage inside the store showed him walking around before he bought a drink.
An apparent law enforcement officer entered the store while Nick was in line. He was arrested shortly after, around 9:15 p.m., at the corner of Exposition Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. Initially, he was booked at DTLA’s Parker Center Jail and later transferred to Twin Towers Correctional Facility, where he is held without bail.
Hours ahead of the Santa Monica sighting, Nick was seen walking past a gas station in Brentwood, going in the opposite direction of his parents’ home. It was around 11:15 p.m. Saturday night, according to surveillance footage obtained by The Post.
On Tuesday, he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders.
He is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
Nick Reiner made his first court appearance Wednesday. He was shackled at both hands and feet and wore an anti-suicide smock.
He spoke only three words during his appearance to tell the judge, “Yes, your honor,” confirming that he was sure he wanted to waive his right to a fast arraignment.
Following the short hearing, Nick’s lawyer — famed criminal defense attorney Alan Jackson — announced to reporters outside the courthouse that his client would be arraigned on January 7th.
