Nick Reiner is reportedly expected to plead not guilty to the brutal murders of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.
The 32-year-old will likely claim insanity, TMZ reported Friday, noting that Nick struggles with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, trouble with thinking and lack of motivation, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
Nick was reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia before his parents’ stabbing deaths, and the medications he was taking were allegedly making him act “erratic and dangerous.”
About a month ago, doctors reportedly changed Nick’s meds, at which point he became “out of his head.”
They were reportedly in the process of adjusting his medication to stabilize him when tragedy struck.
Nick had recently received care at a Los Angeles-based rehab facility that specializes in mental illness and substance abuse, per the outlet, which noted that Nick’s substance abuse worsened the schizophrenia.
Nick’s lawyer, famed criminal defense attorney Alan Jackson, did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Nick, who lived in his parents’ guesthouse in Brentwood, has a history of violence and drug addiction. He has been to rehab almost 20 times and experienced bouts of homelessness.
On Sunday afternoon, Rob, who was 78, and Michele, who was 70, were found stabbed to death in their home.
The LA County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that the couple died from “multiple sharp force injuries,” ruling that the manner was homicide.
Nick was arrested Sunday night near Exposition Park in Downtown LA after reportedly leaving behind bloody evidence at a hotel in Santa Monica.
He is jailed at Twin Towers Correctional Facility, where he is being held without bail.
On Tuesday, he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders.
Nick is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
He made his first court appearance Wednesday wearing an anti-suicide smock, with Jackson later telling reporters outside the courthouse that his client would be arraigned on Jan. 7.
He also asked the public to not rush to judgment or jump to conclusions, as he described the case as “very, very complex and serious.”
The night before the murders, Rob and Michele brought Nick to a Christmas party at Conan O’Brien’s house.
They were reportedly “reluctant to leave him home alone” because his “extreme and stressful behavior” had escalated and “grown degrees even more concerning in recent weeks.”
During the bash, where Nick was observed behaving strangely and getting into an argument with his parents, Rob reportedly said he was “petrified” that Nick could one day “hurt” him.
Nick has reportedly “always” had a “hostile” and “volatile” dynamic with his family, but his “anger” was mostly “directed at his parents.”
An insider elaborated to Page Six that Nick “really resented his dad” and “hated himself for not being as talented, prolific or beloved” as the award-winning actor-director.
Another source described Nick as a “spoiled” and “unappreciative” nepo baby.
Someone who knew Nick as a child described him to Page Six as “intense” and “egocentric,” explaining that he had “inexhaustible” energy and serious “behavioral issues.”
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