Nick Reiner, who is accused of murdering his parents Michelle and Rob Reiner, doesn’t understand why he’s in prison.
The 32-year-old believes the people who put him in prison were involved in a “conspiracy” against him, a source told TMZ on Friday.
Officials also pointed out that Nick is said to be aware of his crimes, although he is actually resting.
This latest update comes after his arraignment was postponed for the second time to January 7, due to the sudden resignation of his attorney Alan Jackson.
On Wednesday morning, Jackson told the judge overseeing the case that he had “no choice but to withdraw and seek relief.”
He will be represented by Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene in his place, and a new date has been set for February 23.
Nick appeared in court with a freshly shaved head and sunken eyes, but only once during his arraignment said he agreed to change attorneys.
The “Being Charlie” writer was originally scheduled to enter a plea Wednesday after his arraignment was postponed from Dec. 17.
On December 14, Michelle and Rob were found stabbed to death by their daughter Romy in their home after an argument with Nick at a party the night before. He was 78 years old and she was 70.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office confirmed the couple’s cause of death was “multiple sharp trauma,” and ruled the deaths a homicide.
Later that night, Nick was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstances of multiple murders.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
After the murders, it was reported that Nick had been diagnosed with schizophrenia before killing the actor/director and his wife. He also has a long history of drug addiction.
The suspected killer had been under the care of a psychiatrist for mental illness, but was said to have become “more alert” in the weeks leading up to the killing.
At the time, doctors changed Nick’s medication, which reportedly caused him to “go crazy.”
If you or a loved one is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call SAMHSA’s national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
