A well-known and highly respected investigative journalist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal was found stabbed to death just outside his home. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police responded to a 911 call and found Jeffrey Michael German, 69, suffering from multiple stab wounds from an apparent altercation.
Police have charged Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles in German’s murder. Officials speculate that the killing could be related to German’s recent work highlighting the turmoil and toxicity linked to Telles’ oversight of the public administrator’s office. Apparently, an employee had tipped German off to “wrongdoings” within the office, prompting the highly decorated journalist to investigate the allegations. German’s work highlighted a hostile work environment as well as at least one troublesome and highly inappropraite workplace relationship involving Telles.
The first story on Telles was published in the Review-Journal in mid-May. It painted a picture of his department fraught with mental and physical health issues correlated to poor leadership. German published several follow-up articles, including a piece that noted that a former county official was being brought in to straighten out claims of bullying and favoritism.
The dissension and unrest within the department caused one of Telles’ top aids, Rita Reid, to challenge him in the Democratic primary. Telles was defeated in the primary, finishing third behind Reid and Caroline Escobar. German’s last article focused on Telles’ defeat and ultimate concession. Speculation is that the defeat, and a recent request by German for public records for another potential story on Telles, fueled the rage which ultimately led to the murder.
