General Discussion

California Probate Code section 250, commonly referred to as the “slayer statute,” rests on a straightforward principle: a person should not inherit from someone whose death they intentionally and feloniously caused.

If the statute applies, the law treats the perpetrator as though they predeceased the victim. In practical terms, that means the individual cannot take from the estate altogether. They do not inherit under a will or trust. They do not take a share through intestate succession. They do not receive life insurance proceeds, retirement benefits, or pay-on-death accounts.

Gotta wonder if one of the motives for Nick Reiner's actions was financial. He would have to be ignorant of the "slayer" statutes. Who knows what his state of mind is... What if he avoids prison through an insanity plea, however? We will probably be learning more about all of this as the media focuses on the sensationalism surrounding the incident.