After Las Vegas Assessment-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German was discovered stabbed to demise exterior his house, police shortly zeroed in on Robert Telles – the topic of a collection of articles German had written.
Check out the occasions resulting in Telles’ arrest.
Jeff German’s homicide
On Sept. 3, 2022, Jeff German’s physique was discovered exterior his house by a involved neighbor.
The neighbor instantly referred to as 911, but it surely was too late. German had already been lifeless for roughly 24 hours, in accordance with authorities. He had suffered seven stab wounds to the neck and chest.
Surveillance video captures the assault
Because the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division started its investigation, it found surveillance video from throughout the road that captured the assault. The video confirmed the alleged assailant strolling into German’s aspect yard and hiding behind the gate. Moments later, in accordance with police, German opened his storage door, walked to the aspect of his home, and was ambushed by the assailant.
Who wished Jeff German lifeless?
German’s colleagues on the Las Vegas Assessment-Journal have been desperate to resolve who killed him. And once they checked out who to contemplate, Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles shortly got here to thoughts.
Telles had been the topic of German’s latest reporting. After 4 staff on the Clark County Public Administrator’s Workplace reached out to German with their claims of a poisonous office beneath Telles, German took on their story. After his investigation, German wrote a collection of articles about Telles’ alleged “bullying” and “hostility” in his workplace. Telles would later lose his bid for re-election within the main.
Robert Telles’ tweets
In response to German’s reporting, Telles posted a collection of tweets.
Robert Telles’ prior arrest
Because the Assessment-Journal reporters started digging into Telles’ previous, they discovered that he had been arrested in March 2020, whereas he was the general public administrator, for home battery and resisting arrest.
He was caught on police physique digital camera video slurring his phrases and yelling, “You simply wish to take me down as a result of I am a public official.”
He acquired a suspended 90-day sentence on the resisting cost and was ordered to attend a corrective pondering class. The battery cost was dismissed.
Picture of the suspect revealed
On Sept. 4, 2022 – two days after German’s homicide – authorities launched this surveillance picture of the suspect strolling in German’s neighborhood sporting an orange reflective shirt and a big straw solar hat. Police urged the general public to contact the LVMPD Murder Part for any figuring out suggestions.
The equivalent gait?
Two days later, on Sept. 6, 2022, police launched surveillance video of the suspect. Assessment-Journal photographer Kevin Cannon stated he was instantly reminded of a strolling shot he had taken of Telles when German interviewed him at his workplace.
“It was positively the equivalent gait in my thoughts,” Cannon instructed “48 Hours.”
Picture of suspect’s automobile launched
Then, police launched this picture of the suspect’s automobile – a maroon Yukon Denali.
Investigators shortly started to obtain suggestions that Telles additionally had a automobile that appeared like this, which was registered to his spouse. Later that day, German’s colleagues on the Assessment-Journal went to Telles’ house.
Robert Telles is photographed washing his automobile
When Assessment-Journal staffers acquired to Telles’ house, they witnessed Telles stroll out to his driveway the place a maroon Yukon Denali was parked and started washing it. One of many Assessment-Journal photographers crouched behind his steering wheel and captured this picture.
Robert Telles introduced in for questioning
Within the early morning of Sept. 7, 2022 – simply 5 days after German’s homicide – Telles was introduced in for questioning as police searched his house and vehicles.
Additionally they collected a DNA pattern from Telles and took the denims he was sporting into proof. He was then introduced again to his house sporting this white paper swimsuit.
Proof in Robert Telles’ house
A fitness center shoe and duffle bag have been collected from Telles’ house. In accordance with investigators, the objects resembled what was seen within the surveillance video of the suspect.
Solar hat present in Robert Telles’ storage
Investigators additionally searched Telles’ storage and located items of a cut-up solar hat that was just like the straw solar hat the suspect was seen sporting.
Robert Telles’ DNA discovered beneath Jeff German’s fingernails
Police stated essentially the most essential piece of evidence got here from the DNA pattern that was taken from Telles earlier that day.
Authorities stated they acquired constructive DNA outcomes that confirmed Telles’ DNA was discovered beneath German’s fingernails.
Police go in for the arrest
With a DNA match apparently secured, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police descended on Telles’ house as soon as once more and started clearing the realm for an arrest. Nevertheless, Telles refused to depart his house.
Robert Telles taken into custody
In accordance with police radio communication, Telles had made some “405 feedback” – a code Las Vegas police use to point feedback related to self-harm. Primarily based on these feedback, police requested SWAT to maneuver into Telles’ house.
Moments later, Telles was rolled out of his home on a stretcher and brought to the hospital for self-inflicted accidents.
Robert Telles indicted
Six weeks after he was booked into the Clark County Detention Middle, Telles was indicted by a grand jury for murder with the usage of a lethal weapon. He has pleaded not responsible.
Robert Telles’ denials
“48 Hours” correspondent Peter Van Sant interviewed Telles on the Clark County Detention Middle. Telles denied killing German and when he was requested in regards to the proof in opposition to him, together with the cut-up solar hat, the maroon Yukon Denali and his DNA that was beneath German’s fingernails, he stated, “I say that proof or so-called proof was planted together with the opposite objects allegedly present in my house as nicely. And we are going to go forward and show that at trial.”
Telles’ trial is scheduled for March 18, 2024.