Inside the arrest of Nevada public official Robert Telles

After Las Vegas Evaluation-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German was discovered stabbed to loss of life exterior his dwelling, police rapidly 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 dwelling by a involved neighbor.

The neighbor instantly referred to as 911, but it surely was too late. German had already been lifeless for about 24 hours, in line 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 line with police, German opened his storage door, walked to the aspect of his home, and was ambushed by the assailant.

Who needed Jeff German lifeless?

German’s colleagues on the Las Vegas Evaluation-Journal have been desirous to resolve who killed him. And after they checked out who to think about, Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles rapidly got here to thoughts.

Telles had been the topic of German’s current reporting. After 4 staff on the Clark County Public Administrator’s Workplace reached out to German with their claims of a poisonous office underneath 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 Evaluation-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 digicam video slurring his phrases and yelling, “You simply need to take me down as a result of I am a public official.”

He obtained a suspended 90-day sentence on the resisting cost and was ordered to attend a corrective pondering class. The battery cost was dismissed.

Photograph of the suspect revealed

On Sept. 4, 2022 – two days after German’s homicide – authorities launched this surveillance photograph of the suspect strolling in German’s neighborhood carrying 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 ideas.

The similar gait?

Two days later, on Sept. 6, 2022, police launched surveillance video of the suspect. Evaluation-Journal photographer Kevin Cannon mentioned he was instantly reminded of a strolling shot he had taken of Telles when German interviewed him at his workplace.

“It was positively the similar gait in my thoughts,” Cannon informed “48 Hours.”

Photograph of suspect’s automotive launched

Then, police launched this photograph of the suspect’s automotive – a maroon Yukon Denali.

Investigators rapidly started to obtain ideas that Telles additionally had a automotive that regarded like this, which was registered to his spouse. Later that day, German’s colleagues on the Evaluation-Journal went to Telles’ dwelling.

Robert Telles is photographed washing his automotive

When Evaluation-Journal staffers acquired to Telles’ dwelling, they witnessed Telles stroll out to his driveway the place a maroon Yukon Denali was parked and commenced washing it. One of many Evaluation-Journal photographers crouched behind his steering wheel and captured this photograph. 

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 dwelling and automobiles.

In addition they collected a DNA pattern from Telles and took the denims he was carrying into proof. He was then introduced again to his dwelling carrying this white paper swimsuit.

Proof in Robert Telles’ dwelling

A health club shoe and duffle bag have been collected from Telles’ dwelling. In keeping 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 much like the straw solar hat the suspect was seen carrying.

Robert Telles’ DNA discovered underneath Jeff German’s fingernails

Police mentioned essentially the most essential piece of evidence got here from the DNA pattern that was taken from Telles earlier that day.

Authorities mentioned they obtained constructive DNA outcomes that confirmed Telles’ DNA was discovered underneath German’s fingernails. 

Police go in for the arrest

With a DNA match apparently secured, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police descended on Telles’ dwelling as soon as once more and commenced clearing the realm for an arrest. Nonetheless, Telles refused to depart his dwelling.

Robert Telles taken into custody

In keeping with police radio communication, Telles had made some “405 feedback” – a code Las Vegas police use to point feedback related to self-harm. Based mostly on these feedback, police requested SWAT to maneuver into Telles’ dwelling.

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 Heart, Telles was indicted by a grand jury for murder with using a lethal weapon. He has pleaded not responsible.

Robert Telles’ denials

“48 Hours” correspondent Peter Van Sant interviewed Telles on the Clark County Detention Heart. Telles denied killing German and when he was requested concerning the proof towards him, together with the cut-up solar hat, the maroon Yukon Denali and his DNA that was underneath German’s fingernails, he mentioned, “I say that proof or so-called proof was planted together with the opposite objects allegedly present in my dwelling as effectively. And we’ll go forward and show that at trial.”

Telles’ trial is scheduled for March 18, 2024.