Actor/Director Rob Reiner found dead in home, apparent 'homicide'

[dobielvr]

While you are correct that the majority entering jails even briefly, much less prison, don't like that situation, there are a minority that enjoy at least for awhile, the free food, housing, medical care, etc, as a respite from whatever street life including homelessness,

I agree with this...some even commit crimes to become incarcerated at times. I've known criminals that you could say become 'institutionalized'...it almost becomes like a haven for some. It's what they know, a home away from home.

jmo

 

[RambleTamble]

But this case grabbed everyone's attention probably because Rob Reiner was so well-known, so decent, and loved by millions. We related to him as a fellow human being, not just a name.

Most of us here grew up with Rob Reiner -- first as "meathead" in All in the Family, then with Spinal Tap, and other directing and acting roles. It's personal when someone from our past dies, but especially personal when he was murdered, and the way he was murdered, and the person who murdered him. What a tragedy.

 

[Murrmurr]

That eerily look in his eyes may be due to the medications he's taking. He looks rather spooky to me.

Hi Dobie. I hope all is well.

Over nearly a decade, the early 70s to late 80s, I was a psychiatric nurse, activities director, staff director, and administrator at 2 state homes and several group homes for kids and adults with various developmental disabilities. Nick has the look of someone who's on the spectrum of autism with psychosis, who is fully cognitive of the potential for violence aspect of that, and who's extremely uncomfortable with it...like, he's very aware that's bubbling right under the surface, and he's really struggling with it, and extremely afraid he's going to lose control over it.

I worked with dozens of people who had that specific look, all of them borderline psychotic. Their daily therapies focused on training them how to avoid psychotic episodes, and how to manage them and who to contact when they felt one taking over...and the window of time for that was really small for nearly half of them...over 1/3, for sure.

 

[dobielvr]

Hi Dobie. I hope all is well.

Over nearly a decade, the early 70s to late 80s, I was a psychiatric nurse, activities director, staff director, and administrator at 2 state homes and several group homes for kids and adults with various developmental disabilities. Nick has the look of someone who's on the spectrum of autism with psychosis, who is fully cognitive of the potential for violence aspect of that, and who's extremely uncomfortable with it...like, he's very aware that's bubbling right under the surface, and he's really struggling with it, and extremely afraid he's going to lose control over it.

I worked with dozens of people who had that specific look, all of them borderline psychotic. Their daily therapies focused on training them how to avoid psychotic episodes, and how to manage them and who to contact when they felt one taking over...and the window of time for that was really small for nearly half of them...over 1/3, for sure.

What a horrible way to have to live, knowing you have this potential for danger inside of you, waiting to explode. Am I understanding you correctly? Is it pent up anger? Are they singling certain people out in their lives to direct their anger towards, as if to blame them for they're problems?

All is well with me...thank you.

 

[RambleTamble]

I read an article that described how Nick had psychotic episodes while on meth. Maybe that's what happened.

 

[Murrmurr]

What a horrible way to have to live, knowing you have this potential for danger inside of you, waiting to explode.

It was excruciating for most of the ones I worked with. They were very afraid of themselves, or more precisely, their potential for violence against others, and unfortunately, that specific fear was a pretty common trigger to a psychotic event.

Am I understanding you correctly? Is it pent up anger? Are they singling certain people out in their lives to direct their anger towards, as if to blame them for they're problems?

All is well with me...thank you.

I wouldn't describe it as pent-up anger. Usually, it's not about anger at all. It's an inexplicable compulsion, mostly due to internal dialog.

If they single out specific targets, it's usually due to delusional thoughts, sometimes with audible hallucinations as well. They're in another reality, but it's very real to them at the time.

 

[dobielvr]

I have a dear lady friend whose autistic son (he's in his early 20s) hits her. Not the father or sibling, just her.
That's why I asked if it's anger generally directed at one person. And, the son is a big guy, over 6ft.

Anyway...you should be having your surgery soon..Yay!
Take care.

 

[Marie5656]

 

[Babs2u]

Hi Dobie. I hope all is well.

Over nearly a decade, the early 70s to late 80s, I was a psychiatric nurse, activities director, staff director, and administrator at 2 state homes and several group homes for kids and adults with various developmental disabilities. Nick has the look of someone who's on the spectrum of autism with psychosis, who is fully cognitive of the potential for violence aspect of that, and who's extremely uncomfortable with it...like, he's very aware that's bubbling right under the surface, and he's really struggling with it, and extremely afraid he's going to lose control over it.

I worked with dozens of people who had that specific look, all of them borderline psychotic. Their daily therapies focused on training them how to avoid psychotic episodes, and how to manage them and who to contact when they felt one taking over...and the window of time for that was really small for nearly half of them...over 1/3, for sure.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It sheds some light on a possible motivation.

 

[Murrmurr]

I have a dear lady friend whose autistic son (he's in his early 20s) hits her. Not the father or sibling, just her.
That's why I asked if it's anger generally directed at one person. And, the son is a big guy, over 6ft.

Anyway...you should be having your surgery soon..Yay!
Take care.

If he's non-verbal or has a very limited vocabulary, he may be hitting mom because he's just saying something, and it might not have anything to do with anger or aggression. It could actually be the opposite...could be appreciation, gratitude, or equivalent to "This is my Mom", "This woman is special" or "I like this person best"...something along those lines. And people with severe autism repeat things over and over, including sounds and movements, so he hits her multiple times. He's just repeating what he's "saying."

I'm just guessing, just saying what that might be about, but I saw that behavior a lot during my short career, and similar ones. He might not know he's hurting mom, and most of them aren't capable of understanding if you explain it. They hear your words, but if they're in the severe category, they can't comprehend the meaning, especially when you string several words together.

I'm sad for the mom and the kid. If I was to suggest something, it would be to start music therapy with him. When he hits her, she shouldn't say a word about it, but after no more than 2 or 3 minutes, take him to a quiet place in the house, grab a pillow, and lie on the floor with him, if he's receptive to that, and listen to soothing music. If he isn't receptive to lying on the floor with her, he might lie down while she sits nearby or in a chair...somewhere in the room that he's comfortable with.

She could also massage him as well as or instead of playing music. Hitting could mean he just wants physical contact with her, a literal connection, and massage could fulfill that need. I don't mean a deep, full massage; just gently, slowly, repetitively run her hand, or even a finger or two, back and forth or in circles on his back, or shoulders, scalp, or forehead. Gently brushing his hair is a good one, too; whatever he can tolerate really well.

Those therapies might not stop the hitting, but can potentially limit it by quite a bit.

Oh...I just had a thought: if the kid is hitting himself, it's likely he's extremely frustrated about something. Could be something minor, like some chachki is sitting someplace he doesn't want it to be. But those therapies could still be very helpful.

 

[Murrmurr]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It sheds some light on a possible motivation.

I wager, before trial, they'll do a psychiatric evaluation with Nick. His history of drug abuse could interfere, though...prosecutors might pick the assessment apart, or at least question it.

 

[WhatInThe]

I wager, before trial, they'll do a psychiatric evaluation with Nick. His history of drug abuse could interfere, though...prosecutors might pick the assessment apart, or at least question it.

Heard a report the defense says they will definitely use his drug history.

The drugs could make existing situations worse by lowering impulse control making it easier for the user to act on existing thoughts or emotions in their head. But it's not like they actually manufacture thoughts like kill parents.

The problem with most prolonged and/or heavy addictions they stop the addict from mentally maturing because almost all their mental efforts go towards their high or getting high and not the issues most learn how to deal with.

An amateur guess says he probably still has a teenager mind set which is why he got upset/argued with his parents at the party. He didn't like being told no or what do just like a teenager and used that resentment as motivation to actually kill his parents with that thought and emotion being made worse by drugs.

 

[dobielvr]

@Murrmurr .....so very informative and you did so well explaining it all to me. Thank you!

 

[CallMeKate]

When he hits her, she shouldn't say a word about it

Isn't there a point at which a big 6 ft+ man hitting his mother has to be dealt with instead of just quietly letting it happen? If he hits her in the head or even other vulnerable places, he could kill her! I can see letting it go with a child, but a full grown man who has the potential to do serious harm?

 

[Marie5656]

 

[RambleTamble]

View attachment 474126

River Phoenix (the kid on the right) died of acute multiple drug intoxication, resulting from a lethal combination of cocaine and morphine (heroin) in his system, leading to heart failure, with the substances significantly elevated in his blood at the time of his death on October 31, 1993.

That's another case where someone seemingly has everything going for them but still gets addicted to drugs.