New details have emerged about the mental health struggles faced by Nick Reiner, who is accused of killing his parents, Rob and Michelle Reiner.
According to a report from the New York Times, Nick Reiner was placed in a yearlong mental health conservatorship in 2020, allowing him to be involuntarily held for psychiatric treatment. This conservatorship ended in 2021, as confirmed by a clerk at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
The conservatorship, known as an L.P.S. conservatorship, is used in California for individuals deemed “gravely disabled” due to severe mental illness. Nick Reiner was reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and he had a history of drug abuse and mental health issues dating back to his teens. He had been in and out of rehab at least 18 times since the age of 15.
Nick’s former conservator, Steven Baer, described mental illness as an epidemic that is widely misunderstood, calling the situation a “horrible tragedy.” Legal experts suggest that the conservatorship could play a crucial role in Nick Reiner’s defense if he pleads not guilty by reason of insanity.
Nick Reiner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his parents, who were found dead on December 14. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner stated that they died from “multiple sharp force injuries.” Nick is currently being held in a high-observation mental health unit at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles.
Defense attorney Alan Jackson initially represented Nick but withdrew from the case on January 7. He hinted at a possible insanity defense, stating, “Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.” The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office is now handling Nick’s defense.
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