Sources Say Nick Reiner’s Medication Weight Gain Marked a Dark Turn Before the Murders

New details are emerging about the tragic case involving filmmaker Nick Reiner and the deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. According to information shared by TMZ, a change in Nick’s mental health treatment may have played a key role in what happened.

TMZ reports that Nick had been dealing with serious mental health issues for years. Sources close to the situation say he was diagnosed around 2020 with schizoaffective disorder.

This condition can cause severe mood swings, hallucinations, delusions, and deep depression. For a long period, medication helped keep his symptoms under control.

That balance reportedly changed shortly before the killings. Sources told TMZ that Nick became upset about gaining weight, which is a known side effect of some psychiatric medications. After raising these concerns with his doctors, his treatment plan was adjusted. The medication that had kept him stable was changed about a month before his parents were killed.

According to people with direct knowledge of the situation, the new medication did not help. Instead, Nick’s behavior became increasingly unstable. Sources described him as becoming more unpredictable and unsafe as the days went on. TMZ reports that his parents noticed the shift and were alarmed by what they were seeing, but they did not know how to handle the situation.

The outlet also reports that doctors did not place Nick on a temporary psychiatric hold during this period. Such a hold can last up to two weeks and is sometimes used to stabilize patients during severe episodes. Sources claim this step was never taken, even as Nick’s condition worsened.

At the time of the killings, sources say Nick was no longer grounded in reality. TMZ reports that he is aware that his parents are dead and that he caused their deaths, but he allegedly believes he is in jail because of a plot against him. One source described his mental state as a complete break from reality.

TMZ previously reported that Nick’s legal team planned to pursue a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. His former attorney, Alan Jackson, suggested this direction after an earlier court hearing. Multiple sources now tell TMZ that Nick is not competent to stand trial at this time.

Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home on December 14. Reports state that there had been a heated argument between Nick and his parents the night before. Nick was arrested hours after the bodies were discovered and is now facing two counts of first-degree murder.

Nick later changed legal representation, moving from Alan Jackson to public defender Kimberly Greene. Page Six reported that Greene did not respond to a request for comment. Nick’s arraignment has been delayed again following his January 7 court appearance.

This case raises serious questions about mental health care, medication changes, and support systems during crisis moments. If the reports are accurate, it shows how fragile stability can be for someone with severe mental illness.

This tragedy highlights the need for stronger safeguards when treatment plans change for high-risk patients. Mental health decisions can have life-or-death consequences. What do you think about the role medication changes may have played in this case? Share your thoughts in the comments.