Las Vegas area public official Robert “Rob” Telles was arrested and taken into custody Wednesday as a suspect in the murder of Las Vegas Review Journal and veteran reporter Jeff German. 

German was found dead outside his Las Vegas home last Saturday morning, Sept. 3. The Clark County Coroner ruled he died from “multiple sharp force injuries” and was classified as a homicide. The arrest report states that the autopsy recorded seven stab wounds. LVPD said he was killed the previous Friday night. Surveillance shows an altercation at around 11 a.m. that Friday morning. 

The investigative reporter worked for over two decades for the Las Vegas based, the Sun before joining the Review Journal in 2010 where he covered politics, organized crime, and labor, among other topics. The Review Journal said this past Wednesday that German was working on follow-up reports. 

He had also requested texts and emails between Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, Assistant Public Administrator Rita Reid, and Consultant Michael Murphy, and one other county official. Telles had become a topic in many of German’s recent reports. Based on complaints of some administrative bullying, favoritism, and grooming involving Telles, German began investigating. 

"This is a terrible and jarring homicide, one that has deeply impacted Las Vegas,” Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said during the press conference announcing Telles’ arrest. “We hope the arrest of Telles and subsequent prosecution will ultimately provide a sense of justice to our community and Mr. German's family." 

The Review Journal’s executive editor Glenn Cook also released a statement following Telles’ arrest on behalf of the publication. 

"We are relieved Telles is in custody and outraged that a colleague appears to have been killed for reporting on an elected official,” said Cook. “Journalists can't do the important work our communities require if they are afraid a presentation of facts could lead to violent retribution." 

During Telles’ first court appearance on Thursday, Sept. 8, the prosecutor Richard Scow and the judge revealed that Telles had German’s DNA underneath his fingernails. He was also denied bail at a later hearing that same day.

“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. Godspeed, Jeff,” Cook continued. 

Telles was a lawyer who before being a politician, and practiced probate and estate law. In 2018, he defeated a third-term serving Public Administrator in Clark County and has held the seat since. His term is set to expire at the end of this year and he was beaten in the Democratic primary in June by Assistant Public Administrator Rita Reid. Even before he took his position in 2018, there had been reports then and since about the office environment and life under his stewardship.

German’s family also released a statement following news of Telles’ arrest.

“We’re shocked, saddened and angry about his death — Jeff was committed to seeking justice for others and would appreciate the hard work by local police and journalists in pursuing his killer. We look forward to seeing justice in this case,” they said.