Reiner killings: Nick Reiner formally charged with 2 counts of murder

LOS ANGELES - Nick Reiner, the son of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, was charged with their murder Tuesday. 

What we know:

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances.

If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole, or the death sentence if prosecutors choose, Hochman said. 

Nick Reiner was expected to appear in court Tuesday morning, but that was postponed due to lack of medical clearance. Hochman said Reiner is currently going through standard medical clearance, which is protocol. His arraignment has been tentatively set for Wednesday. 

Rob, Michele found dead 

The backstory:

Rob and Michele were found dead inside their Brentwood home Sunday, Dec. 14 around 3:30 p.m. Their daughter, 28-year-old Romy Reiner, reportedly found them and called 911. 

Nick was located Sunday night around 9:15 p.m. in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles and taken into custody without incident. He was booked for murder the following morning. He is currently being held without bail. 

Officials said the Reiners were stabbed to death. A knife was used in the killing, Hochman said. 

Nick hires high-profile attorney

On Tuesday, TMZ reported Nick Reiner hired Alan Jackson, of Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, as his defense attorney. The high-profile lawyer represented Karen Read, who was acquitted of murder charges after being accused of murdering her boyfriend, Boston Police officer John O'Keefe.

Jackson has also represented several clients in the NBA and NFL, as well as Kevin Spacey and Naasón Joaquín García.

What they're saying:

TMZ also reported that the night before the killings, Nick attended Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party, where an argument reportedly broke out between him and his father.

RELATED: Rob Reiner and son Nick had argument at Conan O’Brien party before parents' death, sources say

"There was some kind of argument that transpired at the party, and this argument was so animated, so loud that we're told people that were at the party overheard the commotion. And it's unclear exactly what the argument was about. But we're told that Rob and his wife were so upset they actually left the party immediately after," one source said.

Nick Reiner has spoken publicly about struggles with substance abuse.  "Being Charlie," which was released in 2015, was a semi-autobiographical film Nick made with his father about addiction and mental health.

Rob Reiner once said that the project forced them to understand each other better and helped them feel closer despite years of strain.

The Reiners were set to host the Obamas the night of the killings

Michelle Obama also reacted to the deaths during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmy Live." 

"They are not they’re not deranged or crazed what they what they have always been are passionate people in a time when there are not 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," she said. 

She added that she and former President Barack Obama were supposed to have dinner with the couple the night they died.

Trump's comments spark backlash

President Trump also publicly commented on Rob Reiner in the wake of the news, prompting criticism from both parties. 

"Well, I wasn’t a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned. He said he liked, he knew it was false. In fact, it's the exact opposite, that I was a friend of Russia, controlled by Russia. You know, it was the Russia hooks. He was one of the people behind it. I think, I think he hurt himself career wise. He became like a deranged person. Trump derangement syndrome," Trump said.

RELATED: Trump on Rob Reiner: Republicans react to president's comment

Several Republicans criticized President Trump’s remarks about Rob Reiner, calling them inappropriate and disrespectful. Rob Reiner was known as a prominent Democrat and outspoken Trump critic.

Timeline:

Below is a timeline of alleged and confirmed events.

What's next:

‘Loud, heated argument' erupts at holiday party

While a motive for the deadly attack is unknown, several sources say Rob, Michele, and Nick attended Conan O’Brien's Christmas party the night before they were killed. Those who attended say a loud and heated argument erupted between Nick and Rob. According to TMZ, Rob and Michele left the party after the argument, but it's not clear when Nick left.

"It's unclear what the argument was over but it was so heated and so animated, that we are told people at the party overhead the commotion," Charlie Neff with TMZ told FOX 11. 

Some who attended the party told TMZ that Nick seemed out of place based on how he was dressed and how he was carrying himself.

Nick's struggles with mental health, addiction 

Dig deeper:

Nick has openly shared his struggles with drug addiction and has even experienced homelessness. He wrote the film "Being Charlie," loosely based on his life that was released in 2015. The film was directed by his father and won a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Voice Award.

By age 18, he had cycled in and out of nine treatment facilities. In multiple interviews, Nick talked about being in and out of rehab programs throughout his teen years, and being homeless while spending time in Texas, New Jersey and Maine. He also described an instance when he was high on cocaine for multiple days and trashed his parents' guest house.

According to TMZ, Michele had reportedly spoke to friends in recent weeks about Nick's mental health and addiction issues, saying, "We've tried everything."

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