Investigative Reporter Murder Trial: Robert Tellis

For over 20 years, Mr. Bailey and Jeff Garman were neighbors who had grown accustomed to each other's daily routines.

So when Mr. Bailey noticed on September 2, 2022, that Garman’s garage door was wide open and his car parked inside—a sight that struck him as unusual—concern quickly set in. Despite multiple calls and texts throughout the day, Mr. Bailey and his family received no reply.

By evening, worried for Garman’s safety, Mr. Bailey decided to close the garage door, hoping to protect the property.

Yet, as September 3 dawned, their efforts to reach Garman remained futile.

Roy Bailey went to check on his neighbor, Jeff Garman, at his home. Garman, who was over 60 years old, was found outside on the side of his house.

Initially, it was thought he might have suffered a medical emergency. However, it was soon discovered that he had been murdered. Garman had multiple sharp force injuries across his body.

When his body was found on September 30th, signs of decomposition indicated that he had been killed before that date.

Investigators examined the crime scene and noted several key details.

Investigators observed several key details during their examination of the crime scene. Notably, Mr. Garman's phone, car keys, and wallet—with money still inside—were found on his person, suggesting that robbery was not a motive.

They also examined the area around where Mr. Garman was discovered and noticed damage to nearby bushes.

Upon closer inspection, they found blood on some of the bushes and outdoor decorations.

These findings were carefully documented as part of their investigation.

Detectives and crime scene analysts also investigated the inside of Mr. Garman's house.

They found no signs of forced entry or struggle, and all of his valuables were still present and undisturbed.

The focus of the crime scene remained around the side area of his house, including the damaged bushes and the location of his body.

Mr. Garman's car was found in the garage, further confirming the lack of a break-in.

Investigators did uncover some clues about the last hours of Mr. Garman’s life by examining his trash.

Among the items, they discovered a receipt dated September 2nd from Roberto's Taco Shop.

The couple living across the street from Mr. Garman, had a home surveillance system with a camera pointed at the front of his house. Reviewing the footage, they observed a figure dressed in orange approaching the side of Mr. Garman’s property.

The individual remained there, waiting. When Mr. Garman opened his garage and went to the side yard, he was attacked by this person.

The footage captures the entire sequence, including the attack that ultimately resulted in Mr. Garman’s death.

Jeff Garman’s body was transported to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

The cause of death was determined to be multiple sharp force injuries. During the autopsy, a crime scene analyst collected fingernail clippings and scrapings from Mr. Garman's hands to check for foreign DNA.

These samples were sent to Metro's DNA lab, where foreign DNA was detected in the right fingernail clippings.

However, the origin of this DNA remained unidentified.

Robert Tellis, the former Las Vegas politician, is accused of the stabbing death of investigative reporter Jeff Garman.

To provide an overview of the case, let's turn to Las Vegas, Nevada, where Court TV anchor Julie Grant gives us insight into the proceedings against Tellis.

At around 10:30 a.m. on September 3, 2022, a 911 call reported that a neighbor had discovered a deceased person on the side of their house.

The victim, 69-year-old Jeff Garman, was found stabbed to death in his backyard. Garman, an investigative reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, had been investigating allegations of misconduct at the Clark County Public Administrator's Office in the months leading up to his death.

Garman wrote four articles in May and June and continued his investigation even after Tellis lost his reelection bid.

Tragically, on September 2, 2022, Garman was murdered. While all murders are tragic, the killing of a journalist is especially concerning.