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An aunt of the man accused in the killings of Rob and Michele Reiner is speaking out. Martine Singer describes daily life as a mix of work, grief and unanswered questions as the criminal case against her nephew, Nick Reiner, moves forward.
How Martine Singer is coping after the tragedy
Martine, who leads one of Southern California’s largest children’s nonprofits, says she has tried to return to routine. She went back to work in January. Yet the loss remains present in small moments.
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In an interview broadcast by Los Angeles’ ABC7, Martine told reporter Marc Brown that the pain is persistent. She uses the phrase “I’m functioning” to describe her state.
- She confirmed she has not spoken with Nick since his arrest.
- When asked if she had a message for him, she hesitated and declined to answer directly.
- Martine says it is hard to think of her sister and brother-in-law in the past tense.
What investigators say happened in mid-December
Law enforcement reports place the deaths on December 14, 2025. Key moments in the timeline include:
- Dec. 13: A reported public argument between Nick and his father at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party.
- Dec. 14: Rob and Michele were found dead. A relative alerted Martine, who described driving over as “probably the longest car ride” of her life.
- Dec. 14: Nick was taken into custody near the UCLA campus.
Charges, plea and court developments
Nick faces two counts of first-degree murder. He has entered a plea of not guilty. Prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty.
- He remains held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles while the case proceeds.
- On October 23, a probate hearing is scheduled as Nick attempts to access a family trust to help cover legal fees.
Relatives reflect: the family’s changing reality
Other family members have also described the emotional fallout. Martine’s comments echo remarks from Nick’s brother, Jake Reiner.
In a separate ABC7 interview with reporter Mark Cota-Robles, Jake, 35, said the months since the deaths have altered his perception of time and grief.
- Jake described the eight months since the killings as feeling “like eight years and also eight minutes.”
- He and sister Romy Reiner are trying to manage daily life while Nick is incarcerated.
Public details and unanswered questions
Many specifics remain part of the police and court record. Family members continue to balance public scrutiny with private mourning.
Martine has expressed how magnetic and larger-than-life her sister and brother-in-law were, and how empty their absence feels. She says their personalities made an outsized impact on friends and family.
