Nick Reiner claims he is the victim of a conspiracy

Nick Reiner believes he is being targeted in a conspiracy following the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, according to reports.

The outlet says Reiner, who remains in custody, is experiencing severe delusions and does not fully understand why he is in jail. Sources with direct knowledge of the case told the publication that he believes the people responsible for his imprisonment are working against him.

The claims are explored in a new documentary titled TMZ Investigates: The Reiner Murders: What Really Happened, which is set to air on Fox and stream on Hulu.

Claims of a mental health crisis

Reiner has reportedly been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a severe mental illness associated with delusions, hallucinations and manic episodes.

Sources said his condition deteriorated around a month before the deaths, when doctors allegedly changed his medication. They claim the new treatment made him increasingly erratic and dangerous, and that the medication is still not working properly.

His legal team had reportedly been preparing to pursue a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

What an insanity plea means

Under US law, such a plea does not necessarily require proof that a defendant could not tell right from wrong. Instead, it centres on whether the person understood the “character and quality” of their actions at the time.

Legal experts note that even if an act appears premeditated, a jury can still reach a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity if they believe the defendant lacked the capacity to understand what they were doing.

The defence strategy is said to focus on whether Reiner’s mental state prevented him from grasping the nature of his actions.

Documentary to examine the case

The new documentary will examine the case, the legal arguments and Reiner’s reported mental state.

It is scheduled to air on Fox on Friday night before becoming available on Hulu.

Aasiya Niaz