The $50 Million Loophole: How California Law Could Let Nick Reiner Inherit From Rob and Michele Reiner — Even If He Killed Them
The $50 Million Loophole: How California Law Could Let Nick Reiner Inherit From Rob and Michele Reiner — Even If He Killed Them  
Podcast: Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Published On: Tue Feb 03 2026
Description: In 1975, a woman named Gloria Ladd killed her two teenage sons. Drugged them. Smothered them. She was charged with murder, pled insanity, and was committed to a state hospital. Then she inherited their money.The California Court of Appeal ruled that an insanity verdict does not trigger the Slayer Statute — the law designed to prevent killers from profiting off their crimes. The statute requires proof of "intentional" killing. Insanity negates intent. Gloria Ladd inherited from the sons she murdered. That case, Estate of Ladd, is from 1979. It's still good law. It's never been overruled.Now apply that to the Reiner case.Rob and Michele Reiner's estate is estimated at $200 million. Nick Reiner is charged with their murders. His former attorney declared him "not guilty of murder" under California law. Legal analysts expect an insanity defense. If Nick is found NGRI, he may still be entitled to inherit — potentially $50 million or more, depending on the estate plan.The only way to stop it? Jake and Romy Reiner would have to sue their own brother in probate court. They'd carry the burden of proving Nick acted intentionally — against an NGRI verdict that already found he lacked the capacity to form intent. They'd relive their parents' deaths in civil litigation while their brother potentially collects his share.That's the position California law creates. A 45-year-old loophole. A $200 million estate. And an impossible choice for the surviving family.This episode breaks down the legal mechanics, the precedent, and the financial incentive structure behind the insanity defense that nobody wants to talk about.#NickReiner #RobReiner #MicheleReiner #SlayerStatute #EstateOfLadd #InsanityDefense #CaliforniaLaw #Inheritance #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimeJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.