Renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife have reportedly been discovered dead in their Los Angeles residence in what authorities are investigating as a potential homicide.
The accomplished Hollywood director, aged 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were reportedly found lifeless within their Brentwood home.
Emergency services, including police and firefighters, responded to the LA location on Sunday, December 14, at approximately 3:38 PM local time. They were called to provide medical assistance in a neighborhood known for its affluent residents.
Initially, officials confirmed the discovery of a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman inside the home but did not immediately reveal their identities or the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
It has now been confirmed that detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery Homicide Division are involved in the investigation, according to Sky News.
A source close to Reiner reportedly informed NBC News that the couple appeared to have died from stab wounds.
The police have stated that no arrests have been made, and no suspect or person of interest is currently being sought.
During a news conference on Sunday evening, police did not provide additional details about the deaths or the scene, including the nature of their injuries or the possible involvement of a weapon.
Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton indicated that the bodies remained inside the residence for six hours after the initial emergency response. Authorities are in the process of securing a search warrant to conduct a comprehensive crime scene investigation.
“We’re waiting for the legal process to move forward. We have to obtain a search warrant for the residence.”
“Once that is complied with, we will be conducting a full crime scene investigation on the interior and exterior of the residence and the surrounding neighborhood,” he stated.
Detectives are currently interviewing a family member regarding the deaths, but have reiterated that they are not actively seeking anyone as a suspect at this time.
Hamilton added, “We’re going to try to speak to every family member that we can to get to the facts of this investigation.”
The Los Angeles coroner’s office will determine the official cause of death.
Tributes have been pouring in for Reiner, who is celebrated for directing classics such as When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and The Princess Bride. He also had acting roles in films like The Wolf of Wall Street and more recently appeared in New Girl and The Bear.
Michele, who married the director in 1989, began her career as a photographer before venturing into acting, appearing in the holiday film Mixed Nuts. She later produced several of her husband’s films, including Shock and Awe and Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, released this year.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” a family spokesperson stated, according to BBC.
“We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his heartbreak over the news, describing Reiner as a ‘big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love.’
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass remarked that his passing is a ‘devastating loss for our city and country.’