Rob Reiner and His Wife Championed an Incarcerated Man's Innocence Before Their Tragic Deaths

Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, developed a friendship with a man who was incarcerated at age 17 for a murder he claims he did not commit, and dedicated years to advocating for his release prior to their passing.

During an interview with NBC News, published on Monday, January 5, Nanon Williams, age 51, described his connection with Rob, Michele and their children, following the late couple’s attendance at a performance of Byronn Bain’s one-man show Lyrics From Lockdown — partially inspired by Williams’ writing — in Los Angeles in 2016.

Deeply affected by his words, the When Harry Met Sally… director and his spouse contacted Williams in prison and began a long-lasting friendship.

“I didn’t really know who Rob was,” Williams shared with NBC News, noting that over the years, the couple became invested in his case, exchanging daily emails and weekly phone calls.

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“The more they learned, the more angered Rob became, and the more empathetic Michele became,” said Williams, who was convicted of the murder of 19-year-old Adonius Collier in Houston, Texas, in 1992. He received a death sentence following a 1995 trial.

Just 17 at the time of his initial arrest, Williams spent years on death row until a 2005 law prohibited executions for crimes committed by juveniles. His sentence was subsequently reduced to life without parole, according to NBC News.

Williams has consistently maintained his innocence, and his legal team continues to pursue appeals. In April 2024, the Texas Forensic Science Commission determined that ballistics analysis used to convict Williams was inaccurate.

“He possesses the most intuitive nature I’ve ever encountered,” Michele wrote in a letter supporting Williams’ request for a new trial, as reported by NBC. “And although he says we have given him so much, he has given me so much more.”

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In his own letter, Rob stated, “I’ve led a prominent life for over fifty years. And during that time, I’ve met some very impressive and influential individuals. But if I’m being honest, aside from my father [Carl Reiner], no one has impressed me more and been more influential to me than Nanon Williams.”

Rob and Michele weren’t the only ones to form a bond with Williams. He was also virtually introduced to their three children, Jake, 34, Nick, 32, and Romy, 28.

Romy told NBC News, “He became like family.”

“My parents spoke about him with such affection,” she added in a statement. “He has imparted more about life and human compassion than anyone I’ve ever met.”

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According to NBC News, Michele sent an email to Williams on December 13, 2025, just hours before she and Rob were tragically killed inside their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Rob and Michele had taken their close friend, Billy Crystal, to a performance of Lyrics From Lockdown in Los Angeles on December 12. Michele noted that Crystal “loved it and was deeply moved by it.”

Michele wrote, “We all said we can’t wait to watch it with you.”

Rob and Michele were discovered deceased inside their home on December 14, just two days after the performance. He was 78 years old, and she was 70.

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According to NBC, Williams did not receive Michele’s email to his state-issued electronic tablet until after the deaths. He also received two additional emails from the couple, which they had sent prior to their deaths but were received days later due to prison screening protocols.

“Please, this cannot be true. Please tell me the news is false,” Williams reportedly wrote to Michele after learning that two people were found dead inside the Reiners’ home.

Rob and Michele’s son, Nick, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ deaths on December 16. He has not yet entered a plea. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, January 7.

Williams told NBC News, “I was judged to be a killer, a monster beyond redemption. The question I pose to myself is, ‘What would they want for their son?’”

“What love and compassion and understanding would they want for him? If they would have it for me, why not him?” he added.