The children of director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have thanked people for their continued support and announced a memorial service for their murdered parents.
A spokesperson for the Hollywood couple’s children, Jake and Romy, told the Daily Mail: ‘Jake and Romy Reiner remain grateful for the outpouring of love and support they have received.
‘They will share information about a memorial service honoring their parents at a later date.’
The Reiners were found dead in bed at their Brentwood, Los Angeles, home on the afternoon of Sunday December 14. Their son Nick, 32, was arrested hours later and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
If convicted, he could face life in prison and even the death penalty.
The accused killer has schizophrenia and has been to rehab at least 17 times. In recent years, he has lived in his parents’ guesthouse.
Romy, 27, tragically discovered her slain parents at around 3.30pm on December 14. Her roommate reportedly called 911 while she reached out to her father’s longtime friend, actor Billy Crystal, who lives nearby.
The memorial announcement comes as a source close to the family slammed online trolls for suggesting the late couple didn’t support Nick enough.
The insider told the Daily Mail that those who knew the couple are devastated by accusations they did not help or love their son, who suffered serious addiction issues and periods of homelessness before he allegedly killed his parents.
Friends have defended the couple after conservative influencer Megyn Kelly led controversial attacks on the iconic director, who was also known for his anti-Trump beliefs.
Kelly claimed the vicious murders in the Reiners’ $13 million mansion ‘may involve parents who were focused on the wrong thing, like careers instead of their kid.’
‘Any reporting suggesting that Rob and Michele didn’t love all of their children is totally false. They were utterly devoted to all their children and did everything they could to support them,’ the source close to the family told the Daily Mail.
Sources previously told TMZ that Nick’s schizophrenia worsened in the weeks before the alleged murders after doctors changed his psych medication.
Nick reportedly became ‘erratic and dangerous’ because of the medication tweaks, insiders claimed.
According to the outlet, Nick’s behavior had become ‘alarming’ and he had been attending a Los Angeles rehab facility that specializes in substance abuse, and charges a staggering $70,000 a month.
On the night of Saturday December 13, Rob and Michele had taken Nick to a star-studded holiday party hosted at comedian Conan O’Brien’s LA mansion. The Reiners reportedly wanted to ‘keep an eye’ on Nick.
But guests at the A-list party have since said that Nick displayed ‘antisocial behavior’ including staring at attendees and repeatedly asking if people were famous.
A blow up came when he and Rob reportedly had a loud argument, after which the Reiners left.
Nick is alleged to have killed them hours later.
