ake Reiner has become the glue keeping his traumatized family together after his drug-addicted, schizophrenic younger brother, Nick, allegedly murdered their parents.
The eldest child of legendary film director Rob Reiner and wife Michele has reportedly been a key source of comfort for his younger sister, Romy Reiner — who discovered the couple with their throats slit in their Los Angeles home last week.
“Jake has had to step into a paternalistic role,” the insider told the Daily Mail.
Jake Reiner (right) is the glue keeping his family — including sister, Romy (left) — together after his younger brother, Nick (center) allegedly murdered their parents.
jakereiner/Instagram
“His motto is ‘family first’ — that’s something Rob and Michele had always prioritized and taught their children,” the source added.
Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele, 70, were allegedly stabbed to death by middle son Nick, who has struggled with drug addiction and was diagnosed with schizophrenia, sometime in the early hours of Dec. 14.
Their bodies were found in their Brentwood mansion later that afternoon, and Nick, who was identified as a potential suspect by his sister, was taken into custody by the LAPD that night at a gas station some 15 miles from the home.
Their bodies were found later that afternoon, and Nick was taken into custody by LAPD that night.
While Jake, 34, and Romy, who turns 28 on Saturday, spend their first painful Christmas without their parents, 32-year-old Nick will spend the holiday behind bars, charged with their parents’ murder.
Romy discovered her father and mother with their throats slit in their Los Angeles home.
@michelereiner/Instagram
Jake and Romy have hunkered down at their beach house this week, according to the Daily Mail, where they are joined by Michele’s sisters Suzanne and Martine, Romy’s boyfriend Alex Silberberg, and Jake’s partner Maria Gilfillan.
“They are sheltering from the storm – both literally and emotionally,” the paper’s insider said.
“They all felt it was really important to come together as a family for the festive week and to mark Romy’s birthday, however subdued the celebrations,” the source added.
Taking a leading role, Jake took it upon himself to go to Los Angeles’ Mount Sinai Mortuary on Friday and collect his parents’ cremated remains, according to the paper.
He and Romy are helping organize a memorial service, which is expected to draw many of their father’s famous Hollywood friends.
Romy Reiner and her parents, Michele and Rob Reiner, attend the 2019 TCM Classic Film Festival.
FilmMagic
Jake’s also been keeping close watch over Romy, who stumbled upon her dad’s butchered body after receiving a call from her parents’ massage therapist that there was no response at the gate.
She fled the home and called 911 — and her father’s longtime friend, Billy Crystal. Paramedics later told her that her mother was also found slain inside.
That horrific experience shattered her.
Rob Reiner with Michele, Romy, Nick and Jake pictured together in 2015.
michelereiner/Instagram
“Jake is determined to get his sister through this,” the source told the Daily Mail. “It’s an enormous burden, but he’s the oldest, and he sees it as his duty.”
Nick, meanwhile, is due to be arraigned on Jan. 7. He’s facing two counts of first-degree murder.
Nick could face the death penalty if he’s convicted of the double-slaying because prosecutors hit him with a “special circumstance” — an aggravating factor related to the allegation that he killed more than one person.
