Nick Reiner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special allegation of using a knife in the murder of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner.
With his arraignment set for Jan. 7, PEOPLE reports that Nick has been taken off suicide watch at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles. Since he’s been in prison, Nick has been held in solitary confinement and on safety watch, with a police source telling PEOPLE in December that he is required to wear a blue suicide-prevention smock at all times.
However, in the new report, PEOPLE says that the suicide-prevention smock has been removed. The outlet adds that according to their Los Angeles County sheriff source, Nick will remain in High Observation Housing (HOH) “unless a judge or a court hearing determines otherwise and will continue to be monitored and housed alone.”
Rob and Michele were found dead inside their Brentwood, Los Angeles, home on Dec. 14, and it was the couple’s daughter, Romy, who discovered her father’s body and called authorities. Their bodies were returned to the family on Dec. 19 after their passing was ruled a homicide.
Nick Reiner Appeared In Court on December 17
When he appeared in court for the first time on December 17, Nick Reiner waived his right to enter a plea, which is why the arraignment was pushed back to January.
The BBC reported that the only three words he said in court were “yes, your honor,” when asked about his decision not to go with the speedy trial.
Nick Reiner Received Medical Help Before Tragedy
Prior to this tragedy, Nick Reiner was diagnosed with schizophrenia, TMZ reports, adding that the medication he was taking was making him “erratic and dangerous.”
“Two sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Nick was under the care of a psychiatrist for mental illness,” the outlet added. “We’re told in the month before the murders, Nick’s behavior had gotten ‘alarming.’”
Nick went on to “received care at a Los Angeles-based rehab facility that specializes in mental illness and substance abuse,” according to TMZ, adding that “3 to 4 weeks before the murders, doctors changed his meds, and he became even more erratic.” While doctors tried to adjust his medication, “it wasn’t working.”
“One source told TMZ … once the meds were changed, “Nick was out of his head,” they added. “Our sources also say Nick’s substance abuse was worsening the schizophrenia.”
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Nick Reiner Custody Update Ahead of Arraignment