Rob Reiner’s daughter, Romy Reiner, reportedly lived in fear of her older brother, Nick Reiner, for years before he was accused of killing their parents.
An insider told the Daily Mail on Sunday that Romy had been afraid of Nick since childhood. According to the source, even before Nick struggled with drug addiction, his sudden and unpredictable outbursts were already frightening.
“She tried to stay out of his way as much as possible, but it wasn’t easy,” the insider said.
The source also claimed that Romy — who will turn 28 on December 27 — did not believe it was a good idea for Nick, now 32, to live in their parents’ guesthouse. She was reportedly uncomfortable even with the idea of him living across the street from her.
However, Romy understood that her parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, allowed Nick to live nearby so they could keep a close watch on him and ensure he had a place to stay.
“There were many times when Romy was upset with Nick, and that naturally made her much closer to Jake,” the source said, referring to the couple’s older son, Jake Reiner, 34.
According to the insider, Jake shared similar concerns about Nick, and Romy often confided in him when she did not want to burden their parents. “Right now, Romy and Jake are completely numb,” the source added.
Despite her alleged fear, Romy still tried to help Nick whenever she could and even referred to him as her “best friend,” the source claimed. “Whenever their parents felt overwhelmed or needed help, Romy and Jake were there for Nick. It wasn’t perfect, but she never disowned him.”
A representative for the Reiner family was not immediately available for comment.
Nick Reiner was arrested on December 14 in connection with the deaths of his parents at their home in Brentwood, California. Sources said Romy was the one who discovered their bodies and told police that Nick should be considered a person of interest.
Nick, who reportedly has a history of violence and substance abuse, is scheduled to be arraigned on January 7.
