Accused Murderer Nick Reiner Demands Trust Fund While Locked Up

When you’re sitting in a jail cell awaiting trial for a double murder charge, your priorities shift. For 32-year-old Nick Reiner, that means fighting on two fronts: securing legal representation and keeping his commissary account stocked with basics.

In a petition filed Monday, Reiner is demanding access to funds from a trust his parents Rob and Michele Reiner established for him back in 1992. He’s arguing that he was supposed to receive the money when he turned 30—and he needs it now, both to rehire attorney Alan Jackson and to fund his jailhouse commissary account. The maximum weekly commissary allowance is $300, which Reiner says should cover necessities like snacks and hygiene items.

Here’s where it gets complicated. Reiner has repeatedly pleaded with the trustee controlling his money to replenish his commissary balance, and according to court documents, those requests have gone nowhere. He’s been locked up since December 14 when he was arrested for the savage murder of his iconic Hollywood parents. The case has dragged on—autopsies for Rob and Michele still weren’t complete as of late April, four months after their deaths. Reiner has pleaded not guilty and made a court appearance at the preliminary hearing on April 29.

The commissary complaint might seem like a minor detail in a capital case, but it underscores a larger financial and legal battle. Reiner is trying to mount a defense while simultaneously dealing with an uncooperative trustee and whatever restrictions come with incarceration. Whether the court will force the trustee to release funds remains to be seen, but the filing makes clear that even accused murderers have practical needs—and the legal machinery to demand them.