A man on death row in Texas has shared the heartbreaking final email he received from Michele Reiner, just hours before she and her legendary Hollywood husband, Rob Reiner, were allegedly murdered by their own son.
An Unlikely Bond Forged in Justice Fight
Nanon Williams, who has spent over three decades in prison for a murder he insists he did not commit, formed a deep connection with the Reiners after they learned of his case. The couple first saw "Lyrics from Lockdown"—a one-man show based on Williams's life and writings about injustice—in 2016 and were profoundly moved.
They became vocal supporters of his fight for freedom, with Williams describing them as "an integral part of my life." Their communication grew more regular after Williams was issued a prison tablet in 2021, with Michele writing most often, sharing family stories and offering maternal support. "Michele was my heart," Williams said.
The Final Night and a Devastating Discovery
On December 12, Rob and Michele Reiner attended a Los Angeles theater to see Williams's show again, this time joined by his mother, siblings, and wife, Tera. The Reiners' close friends, Billy Crystal and his wife, along with their daughter Romy, were also present.
Two days later, on December 14, Williams opened his state-issued tablet in prison and was shattered to read news reports that the Reiners had been found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home. Their son, Nick, was charged with the killings.
Williams immediately sent a frantic email to Michele, a woman he saw as a mother figure: "Please, this can’t be true. Please tell me the news is lying."
The Last Message: Love and Hope
Due to security scanning delays for prisoner emails, Williams received a response days later. The timestamp showed it was sent at 8:36 p.m. on December 13—the night before the murders.
In her final message, Michele raved about the show. "We all said that we can’t wait to watch it with you. And your whole family was there, it was great," she wrote. "I loved your mother. She is so beautiful and I told her that she must have done something right because you turned out so well."
She signed off as she always did: "Hope you’re doing well, Love you, Michele." The beloved couple were found dead the following day.
A Controversial Conviction and Lasting Legacy
Williams was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1992 shooting death of 19-year-old Adonius Collier in Houston when Williams was just 17. His conviction relied heavily on now-discredited ballistic evidence and the testimony of a co-defendant, Vaal Guevara, who struck a plea deal.
Years later, the ballistic expert recanted, and prosecutors even admitted Guevara was "very evasive and apparently not at all truthful" on the stand. A state judge later recommended a new trial, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected it.
The Reiners' commitment only grew as they learned more. "The more pissed off Rob became, and the more loving Michele became," Williams recalled.
The family's love for Williams was mutual. Romy Reiner stated, "My parents spoke about him with such love. He has taught me more about life and human compassion than anyone I’ve ever met."
Williams was even introduced via Zoom to the Reiner children—Jack, Romy, and Nick—and felt nothing but love from the entire family, making the recent tragedy even more incomprehensible.
