Gosh, this is sad to hear.
According to a new insider, Rob and Michele Reiner were warned not to let their son Nick live with them while he was experiencing erratic behavior!
As Perezcious readers know, Nick was reportedly being treated for schizophrenia and had struggled with addiction for many years. Shortly before his parents’ killings, doctors allegedly switched up his medication, which reportedly made his behavior even worse. He was prone to outbursts and lashing out, including destroying the guest home he was living in at his parents’ residence. Then, on the night of Rob and Michele’s deaths, he reportedly got into an argument with his parents while at Conan O’Brien‘s Christmas party. Just hours later, the couple was found dead in their home, and Nick was later located and arrested, though he has since pleaded not guilty.
Related: Nick’s Alleged Former Roommate Speaks Out, Describes Violent Urges & More
Now, new sources are opening up about the weeks leading up to this tragedy. In the most heartbreaking claim while speaking to Us Weekly on Wednesday, one source said Nick had fired his psychiatrist and switched his meds shortly before the incident — and his medical team was deeply concerned about the well-being of those around him!! They said:
“The medical staff warned Rob and Michele not to let Nick live at home until he got his medication straightened out.”
Wow… They must’ve known he was a danger! They elaborated:
“[They] warned Rob and Michele not to allow Nick to stay at their home due to the meds being switched, and [said] that it could make him exhibit even more erratic behavior.”
Apparently, Rob and Michele were trying to help their son sort out his medication because “they weren’t working anymore.” Oof. A second source noted “Nick struggled emotionally from a very young age,” while another pointed out:
“Michele was extremely protective of him and worried for him constantly.”
They’d been through so much with their son over the years, including several treatment stints. We’re sure they were just trying to hold on, hoping he’d get through this difficult period. Nobody could’ve imagined what happened next.
Another source revealed the unsurprising news that the Reiner family has currently cut contact with Nick, sharing:
“Last I heard, the family has not been in communication with Nick. They just cannot handle that at the moment.”
That’s totally understandable. This is so, so complicated and devastating. They have reportedly stopped paying for his legal defense, which is why he’s sticking with a public defender after his high-profile attorney Alan Jackson suddenly quit. We cannot imagine the grief this whole family is still dealing with. We continue to keep them in our thoughts.
For resources on mental health, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.
[Image via MEGA/WENN & Michele Reiner/Instagram]
