Robert Telles: Slain Las Vegas journalist had his alleged killer’s DNA underneath his fingernails, prosecutor tells judge

CNN
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A veteran investigative journalist who was stabbed to death had the alleged killer’s DNA underneath his fingernails and defensive wounds, a prosecutor and a judge said Thursday at the accused man’s initial court appearance – in a chilling case that has raised concerns about press freedoms in America.

Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, 45, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the killing of Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, days after the reporter was found stabbed to death outside his home, officials said in a news conference Thursday, echoing earlier reports by the newspaper that cited Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo.

Later Thursday, Telles was denied bail at a court appearance where prosecutor Richard Scow revealed German had been stabbed seven times and allegedly had Telles’ DNA under his fingernails.

Justice of the Peace Elana Lee Graham called the DNA detail “quite chilling.”

“The DNA is alleged to have been recovered from the hand of the victim, presumably during the time in which he was fighting for his life,” Graham said, adding that a report showed German had several defensive wounds on his hands and arms.

CNN has reached out to the police for a copy of the report.

Telles was represented by a public defender who said he was reserving his response to the prosecution’s allegations until the defendant’s next court appearance.

Telles didn’t speak during the hearing and was not asked to enter a plea. He wore a dark blue jumpsuit, and appeared in the courtroom behind a window, looking straight ahead while handcuffed.

He is due in court again on Tuesday morning.

The sheriff said earlier the “terrible and jarring homicide” has deeply impacted the city.

“Every murder is tragic but the killing of a journalist is particularly troublesome,” Lombardo said in a news conference Thursday, offering his condolences to German’s family, friends and colleagues at the Review-Journal.

“We are … 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,” the newspaper’s executive editor, Glenn Cook, said…