Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Nick Reiner Schizophrenia Treatment, New Meds Before Parents Murder "Made Him Erratic" | CRIME ALERT RECAP SATURDAY 12.20.2025
Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a tense, fast-paced roundup of the latest high-profile crime stories making headlines. Nancy Grace’s team, led by Nicole Parton, explores the shocking double homicide of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, delves into a disturbing medical malpractice lawsuit, recaps developments in the Brown University mass shooting, and covers the arrest of a former children’s pastor for decades-old abuse. The common theme is the systemic failures—medical, legal, and institutional—behind these crimes, with thoughtful commentary on how vulnerable people are often let down by those meant to protect them.

1. Brentwood Double Homicide: Nick Reiner, Schizophrenia, and the Tragedy of Mental Illness

Segment Start: [02:06]

• The Crime:
  • Hollywood director Rob Reiner and wife Michelle Singer Reiner were murdered in their Brentwood home. Their son Nick Reiner stands accused.
  • Nick, diagnosed with schizophrenia weeks before the murders, displayed increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior after a medication adjustment at a high-end Los Angeles psychiatric facility.
• Background & Details:
  • Nick had recent psychiatric care in a rehab facility known for serving wealthy families at $70,000/month.
  • Medication changes intended to “stabilize him” reportedly worsened his condition.
  • Substance abuse issues further complicated his already fragile mental state (“Nick was out of his head,” sources say).
  • Autopsy confirms both Rob and Michelle Reiner died from multiple sharp force injuries.
• Legal Outlook:
  • Experts foresee a likely “not guilty by reason of insanity” plea.
  • Funeral arrangements for the Reiners are pending; Nick remains in custody without bail, arraignment set for January.

Notable Quote:

“Legal experts believe this case is headed toward a not guilty by reason of insanity plea.” – Nicole Parton [03:20]

2. Medical Negligence at Detroit Hospital: The Story of Edna Burton

Segment Start: [03:36]

• Incident:
  • Edna Burton, a 20-year hospital employee, suffers catastrophic consequences after her skull bone flap, removed during surgery, is mistakenly discarded due to a hospital mix-up.
• Family Response & Lawsuit:
  • Daughter Erica Burton recounts the horror: doctors only discovered the bone was missing months later, after confusing her mother with another patient.
  • Edna is now mostly bedbound, suffering with sores and unable to eat or speak due to a painful prosthetic replacement.
  • Hospital allegedly responded with a $25 gas card as an apology, sparking outrage and a lawsuit for malpractice and emotional distress.
• Broader Context:
  • The incident happened before a 2024 hospital administration change, with current management attempting to distance themselves from the error.

Memorable Moment:

“Adding insult to the literal injury, hospital honchos reportedly offered the family a $25 gas card as an apology, a gesture her daughter slammed as beyond insulting to say the least.” – Narrator [05:55]

3. Brown University Mass Shooting: Claudio Neves Valente Found Dead

Segment Start: [06:20]

• Incident Recap:
  • The suspected gunman in last week’s campus shooting at Brown University, Claudio Neves Valente, was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in New Hampshire following a multi-state manhunt.
  • Valente, a Portuguese national and former Brown PhD student, is also linked to the murder of an MIT professor.
• Investigation Details:
  • Surveillance, forensics, and witness accounts tracked Valente from Rhode Island to Massachusetts to New Hampshire.
  • Authorities found matching firearms and evidence in both cases, strengthening the link.
  • Valente had apparently used sophisticated means to evade detection, including using an untraceable cellphone.
• Policy Reaction:
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the suspension of the U.S. green card lottery, as Valente entered the country via the program.
  • Public outrage centers around immigration vetting and campus security after two students were killed and six remain in critical condition.

Notable Quotes:

“Valente should never have been allowed in our country.” – Kristi Noem [10:10]
“Although the suspect has been found dead, our investigation is far from over. There are numerous questions that still need to be answered.” – Special Agent in Charge Ted Dox [08:24]

4. Arrest of Pastor Joe Campbell: Decades-Old Abuse Finally Exposed

Segment Start: [13:15]

• Background:
  • Joe Campbell, once a prominent children's pastor, was finally arrested in Missouri on charges of first-degree rape and lewd acts involving minors from the 1970s and 80s.
  • The case is based on the accounts of multiple survivors, with abuse having occurred while Campbell was a Pentecostal preacher.
• Victim Stories and Investigations:
  • Carrie Jackson is identified as one survivor whose testimony was pivotal; others include Phaedra Creed, whose allegations were previously dismissed under pressure.
  • Medical evidence and church records confirm early complaints to leadership in the 1980s that were ignored.
  • Campbell’s pattern included using his religious authority and “divine survivor” narrative to foster trust and conceal abuse.
• Legal & Institutional Response:
  • Oklahoma’s attorney general invoked a rarely used law pausing statute of limitations in certain circumstances, paving the way for prosecution.
  • The Assemblies of God church expelled Campbell in 1989, but he continued ministering and running a youth camp where multiple alleged abusers gathered.
  • Renewed media scrutiny (including NBC’s investigative series) led to the reopening of the case this year.

Notable Quotes:

“This arrest is about justice delayed, not justice denied.” – Oklahoma Attorney General Gantner Drummond [16:14]
“Show me your churches… Don’t tell me about your bank account. Tell me about your disciple account.” – Joe Campbell, in a sermon [15:28]

5. Other Key Information & Tone

• Reporting & Tone:
  • The episode maintains a brisk, fact-driven approach, frequently emphasizing the human cost behind headlines.
  • Emotional testimonies by victims’ families (Edna Burton, Campbell survivors) provide a poignant counterpoint to the otherwise procedural narrative.
• Systemic Patterns:
  • Recurrent theme of institutions (medical, religious, governmental) failing the vulnerable, resulting in devastating consequences.
  • Scrutiny falls on both systemic gaps (e.g., mental health care, background checks) and apathetic responses by those in power.

6. Episode Timeline – Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:06 | Brentwood double homicide: Nick Reiner and family mental health crisis | | 03:36 | Medical malpractice in Detroit: Edna Burton and the lost skull bone | | 06:20 | Brown University mass shooting and Claudio Neves Valente’s death | | 10:04 | Government response: Green card lottery program suspended | | 13:15 | Joe Campbell arrested for decades-old child sexual abuse | | 16:14 | Survivor and legal perspectives on institutional accountability |

7. Conclusion

This episode underscores the ripple effects of mental illness, institutional neglect, and delayed justice. By weaving together personal stories, investigative findings, and policy reactions, Nancy Grace and her correspondents highlight both the horror of high-profile crimes and the urgent need for reform.