Nick Reiner, 32, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had been taking medications that left him “erratic,” “dangerous,” and “out of his head” in the weeks leading up to his parents’ murders, according to multiple sources.
The sources stated that Reiner recently completed treatment at a Los Angeles-based rehabilitation facility specializing in mental illness and substance abuse, which charges approximately $70,000 per month. Many affluent individuals send their troubled children there, the sources noted.
In the three to four weeks before his parents’ deaths, doctors adjusted Reiner’s medications in an attempt to stabilize him, but he became even more erratic. One source revealed that after the change, “Nick was out of his head.” The sources also indicated that Reiner’s substance abuse was exacerbating his schizophrenia symptoms.
Reiner attended a star-studded holiday party hosted by Conan O’Brien on Saturday night, as his parents had requested to “keep an eye on him” due to concerns over his mental state. Guests described Reiner displaying antisocial behavior, including staring at attendees and having a loud argument with comedian Bill Hader.
His sister Romy, 27, discovered her parents’ bodies in their $13.5 million California mansion on Sunday. When speaking with investigators, she stated that her brother “should be a suspect” because he was “dangerous.” Multiple sources described Reiner as a “ticking time bomb,” noting that his drug use spiraled out of control after his parents threatened to remove him from their home.
Reiner had been living in his parents’ guesthouse for the past five years, where his behavior became increasingly erratic and frightening.