Nick Reiner Seeks Trust Fund Access for Legal Defense in Parents’ Murder Case

Nick Reiner, 32, has petitioned a court for access to a trust fund established by his parents to finance his defense against charges that he killed them. He claims the money, totaling $558,000, was owed to him long before the alleged crime occurred, as detailed in recently released court documents.

Reiner argues that any restrictions preventing him from accessing the funds violate his constitutional rights. The trust fund money was reportedly due for disbursement on Reiner’s 30th birthday, in September 2023, well before the murder accusations arose. He seeks to rehire acclaimed criminal defense lawyer Alan Jackson, who previously withdrew from his defense team and was succeeded by the L.A. County Public Defender’s Office. Jackson has declined to comment on the matter.

This case is not regarding the broader Reiner family trusts but specifically focuses on funds separately allocated by Reiner’s parents specifically for him. These funds were intended to be given to him at two specific ages, half at 30 and the rest at 35, according to his attorneys.

Reiner’s legal challenge faces opposition from the trust administrators, who cite California’s Slayer Statute. This law prohibits individuals from profiting from their crimes, arguing Reiner should not access funds due to this legislation. However, Reiner defends his position, emphasizing that he has not been convicted and that the funds were intended for him ahead of his parents’ deaths.

The background of the case involves Reiner’s arrest following the alleged stabbing of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, on December 14. He was apprehended shortly after the crime by police, who reported that his sister, Romy, discovered the bodies. A grand jury formally indicted Reiner on murder charges and supported allegations that he premeditated the attack. Prosecutors have not disclosed any probable motive.

Reiner has entered a plea of not guilty, with the potential of life imprisonment upon conviction. L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced last week that the death penalty will not be pursued in Reiner’s trial. The court will consider Reiner’s request for trust fund access on October 23.

Joshua Ritter, a former prosecutor in L.A. County, agreed with Reiner’s interpretation of the Slayer Statute but cautioned about potential additional safeguards within the trust, considering Reiner’s documented mental health and substance usage issues. Ritter commented, “The guy was a total wreck. You would imagine they built a trust with discretion.”