{"id":215484,"date":"2026-01-08T16:01:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/08\/nick-reiner-psych-meds-made-him-homicidal-insanity-defense-is-on-the-table-sources-claim\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T16:01:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:01:13","slug":"nick-reiner-psych-meds-made-him-homicidal-insanity-defense-is-on-the-table-sources-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/08\/nick-reiner-psych-meds-made-him-homicidal-insanity-defense-is-on-the-table-sources-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"Nick Reiner Psych Meds Made Him Homicidal, Insanity Defense Is on the Table, Sources Claim"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>After weeks of delays,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/01\/nick-reiner-removed-from-suicide-watch-will-finally-be-arraigned-for-parents-murders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nick Reiner was set to be arraigned <\/a>for the murders of his parents on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>It didn\u2019t happen, however, due to the fact that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/01\/nick-reiners-lawyer-withdraws-from-case-replaced-by-public-defender-on-day-of-arraignment-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reiner\u2019s lawyer, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case<\/a> unexpectedly.<\/p>\n<p>Nick is due back in court on February 23, and his trial won\u2019t get underway until much later.<\/p>\n<p>But we have new information about the strategy his defense team might pursue once they finally begin making their case.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-175894760-11-1-1024x731.jpg\" alt=\"Actor\/Producer\/Director Rob Reiner (center) and wife Michele Singer (L) and son Nick Reiner (R) attend Teen Vogue's Back-to-School Saturday kick-off event at The Grove on August 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.  \" class=\"wp-image-544695 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-175894760-11-1-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-175894760-11-1-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-175894760-11-1-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-175894760-11-1-2048x1462.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-175894760-11-1-960x685.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-175894760-11-1-1080x771.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-175894760-11-1-1200x857.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-175894760-11-1-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Actor\/Producer\/Director Rob Reiner (center) and wife Michele Singer (L) and son Nick Reiner (R) attend Teen Vogue\u2019s Back-to-School Saturday kick-off event at The Grove on August 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.  <span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo by Michael Buckner\/Getty Images for Teen Vogue)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For starters, Jackson has been replaced by a public defender named Kimberly Greene.<\/p>\n<p>And even though she has 19 years of experience, Greene will probably be replaced ahead of Nick\u2019s trial.<\/p>\n<p>Wealthy murder suspects don\u2019t usually go to court with public defenders as their lawyers, and the Reiner case is turning out to be less open-and-shut than previously thought.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-nick-went-into-a-spiral-after-change-in-psych-meds-insiders-claim\">Nick \u2018went into a spiral\u2019 after change in psych meds, insiders claim<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/01\/08\/nick-reiner-homicidal-after-schizoaffective-meds-changed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TMZ<\/a> has produced a documentary about the Reiner murders that\u2019s set to premiere on Fox on Friday night.<\/p>\n<p>The film features new information about Nick\u2019s battle with mental illness, as well as new insights about the strategies his defense team might employ.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"Honoree Rob Reiner poses with family at the 41st Annual Chaplin Award Gala at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on April 28, 2014 in New York City.  \" class=\"wp-image-544710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-2048x1403.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-960x657.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-1080x740.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-1200x822.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"Honoree Rob Reiner poses with family at the 41st Annual Chaplin Award Gala at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on April 28, 2014 in New York City.  \" class=\"wp-image-544710 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-2048x1403.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-960x657.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-1080x740.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-1200x822.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-487229461-10-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Honoree Rob Reiner poses with family at the 41st Annual Chaplin Award Gala at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on April 28, 2014 in New York City.  <span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo by Michael Loccisano\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We now know that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2025\/12\/nick-reiner-was-diagnosed-as-schizophrenic-rob-reiner-admitted-he-was-petrified-of-son-ahead-of-murders-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reiner was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder<\/a>, and in the months before his parents were killed, his doctors switched up his meds.<\/p>\n<p>The change turned out to be disastrous, sources tell TMZ, and Nick\u2019s condition deteriorated rapidly.<\/p>\n<p>Sources claim the new medication caused Nick to suffer \u201ca complete break from reality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Insiders say Nick\u2019s doctors further failed him by not placing him on a psychiatric hold while they tried to figure out the combinattion of meds that would stabilize him.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"709\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-709x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Director Rob Reiner and his son watch a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers March 9, 2001 in Los Angeles, CA.\" class=\"wp-image-544714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-709x1024.jpg 709w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-208x300.jpg 208w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-768x1109.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-1418x2048.jpg 1418w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-665x960.jpg 665w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-748x1080.jpg 748w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-831x1200.jpg 831w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-scaled.jpg 1772w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"709\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-709x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Director Rob Reiner and his son watch a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers March 9, 2001 in Los Angeles, CA.\" class=\"wp-image-544714 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-709x1024.jpg 709w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-208x300.jpg 208w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-768x1109.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-1418x2048.jpg 1418w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-665x960.jpg 665w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-748x1080.jpg 748w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-831x1200.jpg 831w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-scaled.jpg 1772w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-815458-2-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Director Rob Reiner and his son watch a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers March 9, 2001 in Los Angeles, CA.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo by Newsmakers)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The insanity defense is notoriously difficult to argue, but the fact that Nick was a victim of medical malpractice might mean that he has a case.<\/p>\n<p>TMZ notes that California is different from many other states, in that \u201ca defendant does not have to show he didn\u2019t know the difference between right and wrong to use the insanity defense, only that he didn\u2019t understand the nature and quality of his act.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Again, all of this is just speculation, but the fact that Jackson conclusively stated that Nick is not guilty of murder in his remarks to the media on Wednesday could also be taken as an indication that Reiner intends to use the insanity defense.<\/p>\n<p><em>TMZ Investigates The Reiner Murders: What Really Happened<\/em> airs Friday night on Fox.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/01\/nick-reiner-psych-meds-made-him-homicidal-insanity-defense-is-on-the-table-sources-claim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 3 minutes After weeks of delays, Nick Reiner was set to be arraigned for the murders of his parents on Wednesday. It didn\u2019t happen, however, due to the fact that Reiner\u2019s lawyer, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case unexpectedly. Nick is due back in court on February 23, and his trial won\u2019t get [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":215485,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-215484","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215484"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215484\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}