Leading U.S. Expert Explains Why Children Kill Their Parents — and Who Should Be Concerned

Following the shocking case of Nick Reiner, 32, who has been charged with the stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, public attention has turned to one of the most disturbing — and rare — crimes: parricide, the killing of one’s parent.

According to Dr. Kathleen Heide, one of the nation’s leading experts on parricide and a professor of criminology at the University of South Florida, such cases are extraordinarily uncommon.

“There are only about 250 parricide cases each year in the United States,” Heide tells PEOPLE. “And fewer than 20 of those are double parricides, where both the mother and father are killed. Most offenders are adults over 18, and they are overwhelmingly male. It’s a very, very rare event — and that’s a good thing.”

Cases like the Reiners’, Heide says, deeply unsettle the public because they strike at the heart of family trust.

“It hits close to home,” she explains. “People start asking, ‘Could this happen to me?’ And that’s a legitimate question. Parents are usually the people who love you the most. What makes this case especially horrifying is that there’s every indication Rob and Michele Reiner were loving, devoted parents. When something this rare happens, people want to understand what drove it.”

Four Types of Offenders Who Commit Parricide

Based on decades of research, Dr. Heide identifies four primary categories of individuals who kill their parents.

1. The Severely Abused Offender

This type is most often a juvenile still living at home who has endured longstanding abuse, including physical, verbal, psychological, and sometimes sexual abuse, often accompanied by neglect.

“The motive here is desperation,” Heide says. “Many have tried to get help — telling teachers or authorities — or they fear they or a sibling will be killed. These offenders often have no criminal record. They’re not ‘bad kids.’ They’re kids who feel trapped.”

2. The Severely Mentally Ill Offender

The second category involves individuals with a long history of serious mental illness, most commonly schizophrenia or bipolar disorder with psychotic features.

“In many cases, the killing occurs after the person has stopped taking their medication,” Heide explains. “They experience delusions — believing God, the devil, or some force is commanding them to kill. The voices feel real to them, even though they’re not.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, Nick Reiner was reportedly taking medication for schizophrenia prior to the killings.

3. The Dangerously Antisocial Offender

The third type kills for selfish, instrumental reasons.

“They see the parent as an obstacle,” Heide says. “It could be about money, inheritance, or being cut out of a will. In some cases, particularly involving females, it’s about wanting to pursue a romantic relationship their parents oppose.”

These individuals often have a history of legal trouble and are frequently diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.

“They’re manipulative, convincing liars, grandiose, and unwilling to take responsibility,” Heide explains. “They want money and status but don’t want to work for it. Everything is always someone else’s fault.”

4. The Enraged Offender

The final category involves individuals who kill their parents in a state of intense rage.

“That rage can come from abuse or neglect,” Heide says. “But it can also come from overindulgence. Some parents give their children everything and clean up their messes, until one day they say, ‘It’s time to grow up.’ These individuals have very low frustration tolerance. It’s like a temper tantrum — but the person is grown and physically capable of killing.”

No Quick Answers

Heide stresses that determining motive requires extensive investigation.

“You can’t figure this out in a 30-minute interview,” she says. “You need long-term mental health records, medical history, family dynamics, and input from surviving relatives. All of that is critical.”

For parents worried about their own safety, Heide offers clear advice:
“Any threat of harm should be taken seriously. I don’t care how old the child is — saying ‘I’m going to kill you’ is never okay. Set boundaries. Get them evaluated.”

She adds bluntly:
“Happy and healthy children do not kill their parents.”

Ultimately, Heide says every parricide case she has worked on is devastating.

“They’re all tragic,” she says. “The parents are gone. The family is permanently changed. The alleged offender’s life is forever altered. The trauma ripples through friends, communities, and everyone who loved them.”