Official Cause of Death Released for Rob Reiner and Wife Michele as Son Faces Murder Charges

The official cause of death for filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, has been released, three days after the Hollywood couple were found slain in their Los Angeles home.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, both Rob and Michele died from multiple sharp force injuries. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

Their son, Nick Reiner, has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with their deaths.

Prosecutors previously said the couple were stabbed to death during the early morning hours of Sunday, December 14, inside their residence. Authorities confirmed that Nick, 32, was arrested several hours later near the University of Southern California.

Nick made his first brief court appearance on Wednesday, appearing shackled and wearing a blue anti-suicide smock. His attorney, prominent defense lawyer Alan Jackson, declined to enter a plea on his behalf. Nick’s arraignment has been scheduled for January 7.

During the hearing, the judge asked Nick — who was seated behind glass — whether he agreed to waive his right to a speedy arraignment.

“Yes, your honor,” he replied.

Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Reiner, 70, were married in 1989. In addition to Nick, they shared two other children: Jake and Romy. Rob was also the adoptive father of Tracy, whom he adopted during his marriage to actress and director Penny Marshall in the 1970s.

Emergency responders were dispatched to the Reiner home after the Los Angeles Fire Department received a call requesting medical aid at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time, officials previously told PEOPLE. The Los Angeles Police Department arrived shortly afterward and entered the home around 4:20 p.m.

An investigation by the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division remains ongoing.

Dispatch audio reviewed by PEOPLE shows that officers were initially sent to the home under a Code 2 call. Just seven minutes later, additional units were requested and the situation was escalated to a Code 3, indicating an emergency response.

Sources previously told PEOPLE that Nick and his father had allegedly gotten into an argument at a holiday party hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien the night before the killings — just hours before Rob and Michele were found dead.

Rob Reiner was a towering figure in Hollywood, known for directing some of the most celebrated films of the past four decades, including This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Stand by Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally… (1989), Misery (1990), and A Few Good Men (1992).

In 2015, Rob collaborated with Nick on the film Being Charlie, which Nick co-wrote and said was inspired by his own struggles with drug addiction.

As the investigation continues, the case has sent shockwaves through Hollywood — transforming a beloved filmmaker’s legacy into the center of a devastating family tragedy.