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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.

12/16 10:37 AM PT -- A rep for Billy Crystal denies that Billy and his wife saw the bodies of their friends ... the rep says Billy and his wife were not even allowed to get that close to the house.

Billy Crystal and his wife Janice saw the slain bodies of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele ... because TMZ has learned they arrived at the scene in a flash after a family member called them about the horrific discovery.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Rob and Michele's daughter Romy called Crystal and his wife not long after she called police to report finding her parents brutally murdered inside their Brentwood home Sunday.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us Billy and his wife raced over to the house -- and were there so quickly, one source tells us, that the couple actually saw their slain friends ... and wanted to say their goodbyes.

Nick Reiner is on suicide watch after being arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Nick is on suicide watch and in administrative segregation at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in L.A. ... while he's being held without bail.

As we reported ... prior to Rob and Michele's stabbing, Nick got into a "very loud argument" with his father at Conan O'Brien's Christmas party Saturday night. We're told the shouting match was loud enough for many others to hear, and that Rob and Michele then left the party. We do not know if Nick left with them.

Rob and Michele Reiner died from "multiple sharp force injuries" ... according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

The ME also notes the manner of death for both Rob and Michele was homicide.

As you know ... Rob and Michele were found dead Sunday afternoon in their Brentwood home.

Rob and Michele's bodies were found by their daughter, Romy, and she told police her brother, Nick, lived with their parents and was "dangerous" and should be considered a suspect.

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."

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.

CJ Perry says John Cena is a hero in her book after seeing him tap out in his final WWE match ... even though his last act didn't go the way some fans hoped.

The wrestling legend stopped by the office Monday and joined us on "TMZ Live" and we asked her about John ending his iconic WWE career with a disappointing loss to Gunther.

It wasn't your typical storybook ending, but CJ says she's got even more respect for John for the way he tapped out after Gunther put him in a sleeper hold.

Soledad O'Brien stopped by "TMZ Live" Monday, still reeling from the loss of her collaborator Rob Reiner and his wife Michele ... and Soledad had some choice words for Donald Trump's disparaging post about the late actor-director.

Soledad got to know Rob well while co-hosting the 10-part true-crime podcast series, "Who Killed JFK?"

She tells TMZ, Rob was kind to everyone ... "The person who was taking in the audio, the person who was shooting, the person who was producing, the person who was helping the person who was producing, the assistants ... absolutely the kindest human being."

In fact, Soledad described Rob and his wife as "two really wonderful, kind people," making their gruesome deaths all the more heartbreaking.

"It's so horrific," Soledad said. "I honestly cannot believe it."

Rob Reiner, his wife Michele, and their son Nick attended Conan O'Brien's Christmas party Saturday night. At the party, Rob and Nick got into a "very loud argument," loud enough for many others to hear ... Reiner family sources tell TMZ. We're told Rob and Michele then left the party. We do not know if Nick left as well.

TMZ is the first to report the argument between Rob and Nick before the murders.

Our family sources add … Michele had been anguishing to friends over the last few months that she and Rob were at their wits' end over Nick's mental illness and alleged substance abuse issues, and did not know what to do with their son Nick … saying, "We've tried everything."

As you know ... the legendary actor-director and his wife were found in their L.A.-area house Sunday with their throats slit. Nick was arrested Monday morning and booked for murder ... he's held on $4 million bail.

Bill Belichick continues to be the base to Jordon Hudson's flyer ... as the 73-year-old was spotted cheering on his 24-year-old girlfriend at a competition in Atlanta over the weekend.

TMZ Sports obtained photos of the couple looking happier than ever on Sunday. Belichick -- rocking a buttoned shirt and a Navy submarine hat -- was seen alongside Jordon, who was all dolled up in her cheerleading uniform.

Hudson once again suited up for Code Black ... who she competed for last month at a Cheer Extreme All-Stars event in Raleigh.

Rob Reiner and his wife Michele had their throats slit by a family member, possibly after an argument inside their Los Angeles home, leading to their tragic deaths ... TMZ has learned

It's unclear what exactly triggered the violence, which went down Sunday afternoon in Brentwood ... but we're told one of Rob's daughters found her parents dead and told police a family member had killed them. PEOPLE reports the couple's son, Nick, was questioned in connection with the murders. Nick has since been arrested for murder.

Our sources also say the daughter told police the family member "should be a suspect" because they're "dangerous."

TMZ broke the story ... Rob and Michele suffered lacerations consistent with knife wounds, and LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division is investigating the case.

Rob Reiner -- the legendary director -- and his wife Michele Singer Reiner have died ... TMZ has learned.

As we told you ... two dead bodies were found in Rob and Michele's Brentwood home Sunday afternoon -- and law enforcement sources tell us it is the Reiners.

Our sources say the two suffered lacerations consistent with a knife. The LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division is still investigating.

Dispatch audio captures a firefighter calling for backup to the Brentwood mansion around 3:30 PM ... though it doesn't provide any further information about the circumstances in the abode.

The NFL world was stunned when the Colts signed 44-year-old QB Philip Rivers to replace an injured Daniel Jones ... and that includes the team's top wide receiver, Michael Pittman, who told TMZ Sports he was "shocked!"

While that was his first emotion, Pittman told us there was also excitement about the move, especially since Rivers was his first quarterback after entering the league in 2020 (it was PR's last season, until now, of course).

"He really taught me everything that I learned about being a pro and about routine and everything," Pittman told Babcock.

"So I feel like there is a lot of love there. I'm excited for him. He's just like, he's fired up. He still feels like the same young guy that he was in 2020 and we'll see what transpires."

Who is the NFL's Most Valuable Player?! Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon is weighing in on the hottest debated question in the league!

"I think it goes from week to week, and these next three weeks are going to really decide who wins this thing, because there's no clear-cut winner right now," Moon told TMZ Sports when asked for his take on the race.

"Everybody thought Matthew Stafford two weeks ago, then he had the bad game last week. Everybody kind of put Josh Allen out of it, then all of a sudden he becomes Superman the last couple of weeks. And then Drake [Maye] has been very steady the whole season. So right now, I would think he would be my MVP candidate at this minute," Warren explained, while adding that could change after the Pats and Bills play on Sunday.

The Bills will travel to New England for a tilt against the Patriots on Sunday, and there are more than just AFC East implications on the line, according to the longtime pro.

"We'll have to see because [the Pats] play Buffalo this week. I think that's going to be a big showdown between Josh Allen and Drake Maye to see not only who wins that division, but also who wins the MVP. And the way that Josh is playing right now, he's got a chance to go back-to-back."

FYI, Maye has 23 touchdowns and 3,412 passing yards, with only 6 interceptions this season. Allen has 22 touchdowns and 3,083 passing yards, with 10 picks. Best of all, numbers-wise, is Stafford, who has thrown 35 touchdown passes on 3,354 yards, with just 4 interceptions.

Of course, Allen was the 2024 winner and is currently third when it comes to the betting odds.