Suspect Captured in Killing of Vegas Journalist: Was an Elected Official
A Las Vegas-area elected public official was arrested Wednesday as the suspect in the fatal stabbing of Las Vegas Review Journal reporter Jeff German.
Clark County Public Administrator Robert "Rob" Telles, a Democrat, was taken into custody at his home by police SWAT officers. Authorities had initially suggested the suspect was in German's neighborhood casing other homes and that robbery may have been a motive.
German, 69, died of "multiple sharp force injuries" in a homicide, the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner said Sunday.
"We believe the altercation took place outside of the home," Capt. Dori Koren, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spokesman, said at a news conference immediately following the murder. "We do have some leads. We are pursuing a suspect but the suspect is outstanding."
German was investigating the official primary to his primary loss in June.
Telles, 45, had been a focus of German's reporting related to complaints of administrative bullying, favoritism and Telles' relationship with a subordinate staffer. That staffer worked in the county office that handles property of people who die without a will or family contacts, according to reports.
It's official. County Public Administrator Robert Telles has lost his reelection bid. County commissioners certified the primary results on Friday ... https://t.co/1g1yLjPBIr via @reviewjournal
— Jeff German (@JGermanRJ) June 25, 2022
The newspaper's executive editor, Glenn Cook, said in a statement that "the arrest of Robert Telles is at once an enormous relief and an outrage for the Review-Journal newsroom."
Cook added: "We are relieved Robert Telles is in custody and outraged that a colleague appears to have been killed for reporting on an elected official," Cook said.
The killing comes at a time when U.S. media organizations have regularly been vilified by those in political power.
While the paper German worked for was once owned by Republican party mega donor and casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, his investigative work in the world of politics was nonpartisan. Just prior to his death, German had reported on the probe of bogus electors in the Nevada GOP.
Nevada GOP chairman hit with subpoena in probe of bogus electors scheme https://t.co/hGf1kFq0Ui via @reviewjournal
— Jeff German (@JGermanRJ) June 24, 2022
Telles practiced probate and estate law. He won his elected position back in 2018, replacing a three-term public administrator. Assistant Public Administrator Rita Reid won against him in the June primary and Telles' term was set to expire on Dec. 31.
German's work spanned for decades and was among the most respected journalists in the Las Vegas media market. He was also instrumental in covering the 2018 Las Vegas mass shootings.
"I'm a member of the Las Vegas Review-Journal's investigative team, and I love digging up stories," German's bio reads on Twitter.
Raiders lawsuits, complaints since 2013 https://t.co/iklqziTttW via @reviewjournal
— Jeff German (@JGermanRJ) June 25, 2022
German recently reported on Las Vegas Raiders lawsuits, including accusations by a female employee that claimed a pattern of forced demotions, unequal treatment and retaliation if they voiced concerns.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
