David Carmichael Planned A Murder And Walked Free — Could The Same Defense Work For Nick Reiner?

David Carmichael crushed sleeping pills into his 11-year-old son's orange juice, waited for the drugs to take effect, and strangled him to death. He'd researched murder charges online. He expected 25 years in prison. He planned the whole thing. The verdict? Not criminally responsible. He walked out of a psychiatric facility after about two years.

Could the same legal standard save Nick Reiner?

Under the M'Naghten rule used in California, insanity doesn't require proving you didn't know right from wrong. The second prong asks whether you understood the "nature and quality" of your actions. Carmichael knew killing was illegal — but in his psychotic state, triggered by the SSRI Paxil, he believed his healthy son was suffering. He thought he was performing mercy. The delusion changed what he believed he was doing.

Nick Reiner's medication for schizoaffective disorder was reportedly changed one month before the killings because he complained about weight gain. Sources say it "messed him up profoundly." Now he reportedly admits to killing his parents but believes his incarceration is a conspiracy against him.

Same legal standard. Same medication trigger argument. Different history.

Retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke examines the behavioral patterns. Carmichael had no history of manipulation. Nick has 30 years of it. His father said experts repeatedly warned the family Nick was "lying or manipulating them." Carmichael didn't flee. Nick reportedly checked into a hotel and navigated LA for 24 hours.

Robin explains why post-offense behavior matters, how families normalize chaos until intervention fatigue sets in, and why the story told after the act may matter most.

The defense exists. The question is whether anyone will believe it from someone who's spent a lifetime making sure no one should.

#NickReiner #DavidCarmichael #RobReiner #MicheleReiner #RobinDreeke #InsanityDefense #MNaghten #TrueCrimeToday #BehaviorAnalysis #TrueCrime

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This 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.