Death row inmate received emails from Rob and Michele Reiner days after their deaths

A Texas death row inmate claims he received a total of three emails from the late Rob and Michele Reiner, who he had forged a longtime friendship with, following their December 14 slayings. 

Nanon Williams, speaking with NBC News, said he first communicated with the late Hollywood couple – whose son Nick has been charged in their deaths – in 2016.

Williams, 51, said he connected with the Reiners when they saw a one-man presentation he wrote called Lyrics From Lockdown, which is based on race, the penal system and incarceration. 

Williams is currently being held at W.F. Ramsey Unit in Brazoria County, Texas, which is about 40 miles south of Houston. 

He has been in custody since the age of 17 – for more than 34 years – in connection with a conviction for a murder that he denies perpetrating.

Williams said had been in consistent correspondence with the Reiners in the nine-plus years since they met, as NBC News reported that the late couple emailed Williams ‘almost daily’ and ‘had invited him to live with them if he ever got out of prison.’

A Texas death row inmate claims he received a total of three emails from the late Rob and Michele Reiner following their December 14 slayings. Pictured in 2023 

The late couple’s daughter Romy told NBC News that Williams ‘became like family’ after crossing paths with her parents. 

Williams said that he got an email from Michele in the hours before she was slaughtered – but didn’t receive it until days after she had died.

The outlet noted that email delivery can lag due to security clearances, which can extend into hours or days. 

Williams told the outlet that he was looking on a tablet the prison provides when he saw news of their murders and sent an email to Michelle.

It read, ‘Please, this can’t be true. Please tell me the news is lying.’ 

Following their deaths, William said he received a total of three emails from the couple on his tablet, the final one coming the night before their death at 5:26 p.m. PST. 

Williams said that the final email from Michele came after the couple, daughter Romy and family friends Billy and Janice Crystal took in a performance of Lyrics From Lockdown in Los Angeles two days prior to their killings.

Michele said that both she and Billy Crystal – who had collaborated with Rob Reiner on classic films, such as When Harry Met Sally… and The Princess Bride – were moved by the performance of Williams’ writings, as she said it was ‘amazing.’

Nanon Williams, speaking with NBC News, said he first crossed paths with the late Hollywood couple – whose son Nick has been charged in their deaths – about 10 years ago 

The late couple emailed Williams ‘almost daily’ and ‘had invited him to live with them if he ever got out of prison,’ NBC News reported. Pictured in NYC in February 2025

Williams said Michele told him, ‘We all said that we can’t wait to watch it with you.’

Williams added that while the Reiners had tried to have his controversial conviction overturned, it wasn’t a move they made for social clout.

‘Rob and Michele didn’t want credit for trying to help me,’ said Williams. ‘It was just because they loved me.’

Williams said his access to media had been limited in the 30+ years he had been behind bars, and he ‘didn’t really know who Rob was.’

Williams said that while he talked about his experiences to the couple on the phone, they both had emotional responses – in different ways.

‘The more they learned the more pissed off Rob became, and the more loving Michele became,’ Williams said. ‘Michele was my heart.’

Williams called Rob and Michele Reiner ‘an integral part of my life’ in a chat with NBC News, adding, ‘They became a part of me.’