Democrat Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles has been arrested for the murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative journalist Jeff German.
Telles, 45, was wearing a hazmat suit when he arrived at his home during a police search on Wednesday and was questioned by German's colleagues.
German, 69, was stabbed outside his home on Friday and his body was discovered the following day.
The journalist had been covering problems within Telles’ office when he lost his primary in June.
"A half-dozen current and former employees interviewed by the Review-Journal are alleging the hostile work environment was fueled by the elected administrator of the office, Robert Telles, carrying on an 'inappropriate relationship' with a staffer that has harmed the office’s ability to deal with the public in overseeing the estates of those who have died," German reported for the Review-Journal in May, just ahead of the primary.
German was working on a follow-up story about Telles and had submitted Freedom of Information Act requests for the official's conversations with several people, including the woman he is accused of having an affair with.
Police had been searching for a GMC Yukon Denali with chrome handles and a sunroof, manufactured between 2007 to 2014. German's colleagues at the Review-Journal had taken photos of Telles washing a vehicle matching the description on Tuesday. His home was searched the following day and the vehicle in question was parked outside.
Telles was not home when the search began, but showed up at his house wearing what appeared to be a hazmat suit. Reporters from the Review-Journal attempted to question him as he entered his garage. Robert Telles just arrived at his house. Reporters asked him if he had any comment. I asked why police towed his vehicle. He had no comment. Story: https://t.co/3CSa7B4XeS pic.twitter.com/tgQ7JuI9BX
— Brett Clarkson (@BrettClarkson_) September 7, 2022
"The GMC vehicle and a second vehicle were towed from Telles’ property at about 12:50 p.m on Wednesday. The residence is less than 6 miles from the home where German was found dead on Saturday," the Review-Journal reported. Robert Telles just arrived at his house. Reporters asked him if he had any comment. I asked why police towed his vehicle. He had no comment. Story: https://t.co/3CSa7B4XeS pic.twitter.com/tgQ7JuI9BX
— Brett Clarkson (@BrettClarkson_) September 7, 2022
“The arrest of Robert Telles is at once an enormous relief and an outrage for the Review-Journal newsroom,” Review-Journal Executive Editor Glenn Cook said. “We are relieved Telles is in custody and outraged that a colleague appears to have been killed for reporting on an elected official. Journalists can’t do the important work our communities require if they are afraid a presentation of facts could lead to violent retribution. We thank Las Vegas police for their urgency and hard work and for immediately recognizing the terrible significance of Jeff’s killing. Now, hopefully, the Review-Journal, the German family and Jeff’s many friends can begin the process of mourning and honoring a great man and a brave reporter.”
Telles is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday afternoon. According to a report from Mediaite, Telles is facing an “open murder” charge, which covers several degrees and types of homicide in the state.
German had been a journalist in Las Vegas for approximately 40 years. He has worked at the Review-Journal for the last twelve.
