In the chaotic aftermath of the brutal stabbing deaths of Hollywood icon Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, their 32-year-old son Nick Reiner’s actions in the early hours of Sunday, December 14, 2025, have drawn intense scrutiny. After allegedly committing the double murder at the family’s Brentwood mansion, Nick checked into the upscale Pierside Santa Monica hotel, a beachfront boutique property steps from the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The scene he left behind shocked hotel staff and became a key focus for investigators piecing together the timeline of one of Los Angeles’ most shocking family tragedies.
Nick arrived at the hotel around 4 a.m. Sunday, paying with his own credit card for a one-night stay in room 207. Eyewitnesses described him as appearing “tweaked out” or “high on something,” fidgety and disheveled, though no visible blood or injuries were noted on him at check-in. He purchased four non-alcoholic Heineken beers and a bottle of water from the lobby shop, adding to the impression of someone in an altered state. The hotel, known for its modern rooms starting at around $220 per night and proximity to the ocean, offered a temporary refuge amid the unfolding horror back home.
Hotel housekeeping entered the room later that Sunday morning after Nick failed to check out formally. What they discovered was horrifying: the shower was “full of blood,” with splatters and trails extending to the bedsheets. Blood smeared across surfaces suggested frantic attempts to clean up. Additional details emerged of bedding used to cover a window, possibly to obscure the scene or block light. Staff were stunned, with reports describing them as “shocked” by the gruesome state of the room. No crime scene tape was placed initially, but LAPD Robbery-Homicide detectives arrived around 1 a.m. Monday to process the evidence, search for the missing murder weapon, and interview employees.
The bloody hotel room became a critical link in the investigation. Authorities allege Nick stabbed his parents in the early morning hours at their $13.5 million Brentwood home, inflicting fatal sharp-force injuries including slashed throats. The bodies were discovered around 3:30 p.m. Sunday by Nick’s sister Romy, who had arrived for a scheduled visit and alerted authorities after finding no response. Romy reportedly fled the scene in panic and later pointed investigators toward her brother, describing him as “dangerous.”
Nick’s movements that day painted a picture of evasion. After leaving the hotel, he was spotted on surveillance footage at a gas station in Exposition Park, south of downtown Los Angeles, buying a blue sports drink while appearing fidgety. He wore a green-and-white tracksuit, a baseball cap, and carried a red backpack. Hours later, around 9:15 p.m., LAPD officers, assisted by U.S. Marshals, arrested him near a subway station in the same area—about 15 miles from the crime scene and roughly 20 miles from the hotel. The arrest was without incident, though video showed him throwing his hands up as police swarmed.
Nick’s erratic behavior at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party the previous Saturday night provides chilling context. Accompanied by his parents, he interrupted guests with bizarre, repetitive questions like “Are you famous?” and clashed loudly with Rob over his refusal to seek help for his ongoing struggles. Witnesses said he seemed “high,” dressed inappropriately in a sweatshirt for the ritzy event, and left early with his parents after the argument. Rob and Michele had brought him along to monitor him amid fears for his safety and theirs.
The Pierside stay raises haunting questions about timing and intent. Prosecutors allege the murders occurred in the early morning hours Sunday, but the exact sequence remains under investigation. If Nick checked in after the killings, the blood in the room suggests he attempted to wash off evidence. The absence of blood on him at check-in fuels speculation he cleaned up before arriving. Toxicology results and forensic analysis of the hotel blood are ongoing, with no public confirmation yet if it matches the victims’.
This incident underscores Nick’s long-documented battles with addiction and mental health. From his teens, he cycled through multiple rehabs, faced homelessness, and exhibited violent outbursts. He co-wrote the semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie with Rob, who directed it in a bid for reconciliation. Yet relapses continued, with Nick living in the family guesthouse and his behavior growing increasingly volatile.
Charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances—including multiple murders and personal use of a deadly weapon—Nick faces potential life without parole or the death penalty. He appeared in court Wednesday in an anti-suicide vest, waiving a speedy arraignment, with his defense attorney Alan Jackson urging restraint and noting the case’s complexities. Prosecutors, led by Nathan Hochman, emphasized the heart-wrenching nature of family violence cases.
The Pierside hotel, now a grim footnote in a Hollywood tragedy, stands as a stark reminder of the chaos that followed the alleged killings. Staff who encountered the bloodied room and the scene it left behind were left reeling, as the city grapples with the loss of two beloved figures and the unimaginable pain of a fractured family.
