Crime

Nick Reiner appeared noticeably different in the days leading up to the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner -- coming off as "drained" and "abnormal" ... according to gas station employees who say they’ve known him for years.

TMZ spoke with multiple employees at a Sinclair gas station in Brentwood, a spot they say the Reiner family frequented regularly.

One employee tells us they last saw Nick about two weeks ago, recalling he looked tired and was unusually standoffish.

At the time, Nick purchased a pack of Marlboro Lights, which employees say was routine for him. They add that he did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The son and daughter of Rob and Michele Reiner have broken their silence ... days after their sibling Nick allegedly killed their beloved, iconic Hollywood parents in their Brentwood home.

Jake and Romy Reiner say in a statement first obtained by TMZ ... "Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day. 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."

"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."

Tara Reid's allegations of drugging aren't necessarily false, but right now cops say their investigation's hit a dead end ... and they don't have any evidence to support the claims.

The Rosemont Police Department in Illinois tells TMZ ... no new evidence in the case has come to light, and the case is now closed.

We're told doctors didn't take chemical tests when Tara was rushed to a Chicago-area hospital last month ... so, they won't know exactly what -- if anything -- was in Reid's system at the time.

Nick Reiner was acting out of place at Conan O'Brien's Christmas party hours before his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, were found stabbed to death in the couple's home ... and now there's a report of a strange interaction that concerned partygoers.

According to NBC News, Nick allegedly interrupted comedian Bill Hader mid-conversation during the holiday gathering Saturday night in L.A. The outlet reports Hader told Nick the conversation was private ... and Nick then slipped into a thousand-yard stare, before "storming off."

As we reported ... Nick also got into a loud shouting match with his father at the same event. In recent months, Rob and Michele were struggling with how to deal with Nick as he continued to battle mental health issues and alleged substance abuse. Rob reportedly brought Nick to the party to keep an eye on him.

The second of 2 doctors who pleaded guilty in connection with Matthew Perry's death was sentenced Tuesday ... and the judge gave Dr. Mark Chavez a pretty light sentence.

United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced Chavez to eight months' home confinement and ordered him to complete 300 hours of community service.

In October 2024, Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He quickly cut a deal with the feds after a slew of arrests were made in connection with Perry's death. Chavez admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, which was then sold to Perry weeks before the actor's fatal overdose.

Prosecutors said Chavez obtained the ketamine fraudulently by submitting a prescription in the name of a patient without the patient's knowledge or consent.

Earlier this month, Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to 4 counts of distributing ketamine.

Another day, another pro athlete falling victim to a burglary ... and this time it’s WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, whose L.A. home was hit Monday night, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

The LAPD tells us they responded to Ionescu’s home in the Los Angeles area around 8 PM for a burglary investigation, after two suspects used an unknown tool to smash the glass of the rear door of the property, according to investigators.

The thieves then made entry, “ransacked the location and took the victim’s property.” They ultimately fled in a vehicle in an unknown direction.

Nick Reiner -- who was arrested on suspicion of killing his parents Rob and Michele Reiner -- will NOT appear in court today for the first time since their grisly murders ... he doesn't have medical clearance.

Prosecutors were expected to decide whether and how to officially charge Nick with killing his parents ... but that will have to wait, because Nick's defense attorney, Alan Jackson, says his client is not medically cleared to appear in court.

As we first reported ... Nick is on suicide watch at Men's Central Jail in L.A., where he's being held without bail. Jackson said this morning he has not received any filing yet from prosecutors ... and he doesn't believe the court has received any filing either.

As Nick Reiner prepares to make his first court appearance ... TMZ has learned Rob and Michele had been dead for some time before their daughter made the grisly discovery Sunday.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... When police arrived on the scene Sunday afternoon around 3:40 PM, rigor mortis appeared to have set in Rob and Michele’s bodies -- meaning they had been deceased for hours before their daughter Romy arrived.

Romy arrived at the house and found the bodies ... then called police, before calling longtime family friend Billy Crystal.

Police interviewed Romy at the scene, who by then was joined by a female friend ... and we hear she told officers her brother Nick was "dangerous." We're told she also said that Nick was living at the house -- but he was not there when she arrived, insinuating he fled the scene.

Sources tell us ... the scene was something out of a nightmare -- with the bodies butchered … the devastation was described as the actions of a "mad man."

Nick Reiner is calling in the heavies after being arrested for allegedly murdering his famous parents ... because Alan Jackson tells us Nick hired him as his defense attorney.

Alan is one of the most well known criminal defense attorneys out there, and he's no stranger to high-profile cases like this one ... he recently got Karen Read acquitted of murder in Massachusetts.

As you know ... Nick was booked on murder charges after Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead Sunday in their Brentwood home ... and he's being held without bail.

We saw Alan heading into a Los Angeles courthouse Tuesday for some legal proceedings related to Nick's case ... so it's game on.

Sherrone Moore's affair with a Michigan Wolverines staff member, combined with his arrest, has left his former football players feeling "betrayed" ... so says Moore's replacement.

Biff Poggi, the Wolverines' interim coach, shared his thoughts on the matter on Monday as the team prepares for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against the No. 13 Texas Longhorns on December 31.

"It has been a tumultuous time," Poogi said.

Barack and Michelle Obama had plans to meet with Rob and Michele Reiner on Sunday night before it was known they had been savagely murdered in their Los Angeles home.

Michelle sat down Monday with Jimmy Kimmel on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- and, at one point, the two started talking about the Reiners ... with Michelle taking a veiled shot at President Trump.

Jimmy kicked things off by pointing out that Barack and Michelle were friends with the Reiners -- and he offered his condolences. Michelle discussed how she and Barack had been chummy with the Reiners for many years, and they were supposed to get together Sunday night just hours after the couple was found dead.

Michelle then took an obvious swipe at Trump for what most people viewed as despicable comments about the Reiners after their murders. Just check out the clip for yourself.

Nick Reiner -- the son of Rob and Michele Reiner, who's been arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents -- stuck out like a sore thumb at Conan O'Brien's Christmas party ... and he was acting out of place.

Sources at the party, which went down Saturday night at Conan's, tell TMZ ... Nick seemed out of place based on how he was dressed and how he was carrying himself.

We're told Nick showed up to the very formal party in a hoodie, while everyone else was wearing nice suits and dresses.

Our sources say Nick roamed around in his sweatshirt, didn't interact with people, kept to himself, and was very reserved ... all of which made some folks feel his behavior was odd.

Tanya Brown -- whose sister, Nicole Brown, was slain in 1994 -- opened up to TMZ about the eerie similarities between Rob and Michele Reiner's killings and the brutal murder of her sister, which sparked the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial.

Tanya tells TMZ ... she saw the words "murder in Brentwood" posted on social media Sunday night, which understandably conjured up old, terrible memories.

As we reported ... Rob and his wife were found Sunday with their throats slit inside their Brentwood, California home.

Tanya said, "The story is very triggering -- beyond triggering. I’ve shed a lot of tears ... it’s very personal to me."

Tennessee Titans star Jeffery Simmons is the latest athlete to fall victim to a burglary ... the 28-year-old star returned home to find his home had been broken into while the team was in San Francisco for their game against the 49ers.

Simmons shared a video of the break-in on Monday, which he says occurred on Sunday at 7:30 PM. In it, you see two men approach the back door of his pad ... before eventually smashing their way in and seemingly taking the camera down.

According to Nashville Police, six suspects were seen smashing out a glass window on video surveillance ... saying “multiple items were taken.”

Nick Reiner -- the son of Rob and Michele Reiner, who's been arrested on suspicion of murdering them -- was missing for hours after his parents were found with their throats slit inside their Brentwood home ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources say ... after Rob and Michele's daughter Romy found their bodies, she noted to police Nick had been living there and was possibly behind the murders.

When police responded to a call for a death investigation around 3:40 PM Sunday, Nick was nowhere to be found. Romy was the one who called 911 and told police her brother was "dangerous" and should be considered a suspect.

Romy told police Nick was not there when she arrived, insinuating he fled the scene. Police finally located and arrested Nick at approximately 9:15 PM Sunday.

Nick is currently in police custody, held without bail.

Rob Reiner and his wife Michele’s deaths have sent shockwaves through Hollywood ... and Donnell Rawlings is opening up to TMZ about the tremendous impact Rob had on the entertainment industry, and how profound the loss of the couple is.

We caught up with the comedian at LAX Monday morning, and he told us that while it’ll be incredibly tough, he hopes Rob’s family and friends can eventually find some understanding of how this tragedy happened.

Catch the full clip -- Donnell looks back on Rob’s groundbreaking career, talking about how he embraced change when others wouldn’t and used his platform to open doors for people along the way.