Nick Reiner will be charged later on Tuesday afternoon with two counts of first-degree murder for the death of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. Announcing the charges to reporters on Tuesday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said no decision has been made yet on the death penalty.
Reiner, 32, was arrested on Sunday evening and is currently being held without bail at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. He will require medical clearance before he can be taken to court to enter a plea.
The accused also faces a special allegation, which can be made in cases of multiple murders, that he used a knife.
The bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Reiner, 68, were discovered at their home in the exclusive Los Angeles enclave of Brentwood on Sunday afternoon. Police heads told reporters that members of Los Angeles Fire Department were the first emergency service to arrive on the scene and called in the police.
LAPD chief of police Jim McDonnell confirmed that after detectives gathered evidence at the scene and worked in tandem with a US Marshals Service task force they arrested Reiner on Sunday night at the USC campus in Los Angeles more than 12 miles from Brentwood, and he did not resist officers.
McDonnell did not elaborate on anything that may have been found on Reiner to indicate culpability, nor did he comment on Reiner’s apparent state of mind at the time.
Hochman said evidence of mental illness could be presented by the defence in the event of a trial. Reiner is being represented by Hollywood defence attorney Alan Jackson, who has acted on behalf of Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
It remains unclear whether the deaths occured on Saturday or Sunday. Hochman did not push back when a reporter asked a question that mentioned reports that Rob Reiner and Nick Reiner had an argument at a party on Saturday night. Hochman also did not say when the autopsy results would come in.
Reiner has spoken openly about his history of addition and co-wrote the 2015 feature Being Charlie with his father, who also directed the drama about a politician’s son battling abuse.
The double killing has shocked Hollywood, with many celebrities paying tribute to the couple.
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