Investigative Journalist Found Dead in Las Vegas Storage Bin

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The storage space where the body of a journalist was found, raising concerns about safety.

News Summary

Matthew Kelemen, a local journalist, was discovered dead inside a locked storage bin at The Beef Jerky Store in Las Vegas, prompting an investigation into safety practices. Authorities found his body after reports of a foul odor. His housemate, Joseph Del Rivo, has emerged as the primary suspect and died in a police chase shortly after Kelemen’s body was found. The incident raises concerns over storage security in the area. Kelemen was remembered for his contributions to local journalism and leaves behind a legacy for his family to uphold.

Las Vegas – Local journalist Matthew Kelemen, aged 56, was found deceased inside a locked storage bin at The Beef Jerky Store in downtown Las Vegas on May 20, triggering a heavy police response and raising concerns about safety and storage practices in the area.

Authorities discovered Kelemen’s body after receiving reports of a foul odor emanating from the locked bin. Officers were compelled to use bolt cutters to access the crate, inside which they found Kelemen’s remains wrapped in a tarp alongside blood-stained items. The bin had reportedly sat undisturbed in the store for at least four days before its contents were revealed.

Initial investigations have raised Kelemen’s housemate, Joseph Del Rivo, aged 63, as the primary suspect in his death. Del Rivo’s whereabouts became a matter of concern after he was engaged in a high-speed police chase in Richfield, Utah, on May 21, just one day after Kelemen was discovered. During this pursuit, he reached speeds exceeding 140 mph before being ejected from his vehicle, resulting in his death.

Family members of Kelemen, informed of his passing by the Clark County coroner’s office, expressed shock and devastation. Mikki Zaferatos, Kelemen’s sister, indicated that he had been feeling uneasy about living with Del Rivo prior to his death, suggesting potential underlying tensions between the two.

The bin itself has been described as a large crate, possibly an amplifier box related to Kelemen’s keen interest in playing guitar. It was reported that Del Rivo had dropped off the bin at The Beef Jerky Store, claiming someone would reclaim it within a week. The police have yet to confirm the specific cause of death; however, preliminary assessments indicate the possibility of a blunt object being involved.

The investigation into Kelemen’s death is ongoing, raising critical questions about safe storage practices in Las Vegas. The Beef Jerky Store, which partners with ‘Bounce,’ a luggage storage company, provides secure storage solutions for travelers, and incidents like this could prompt a reevaluation of current oversight and accountability measures.

Kelemen is remembered for his extensive contributions to the Las Vegas journalism scene over two decades, particularly with Las Vegas Magazine. He is survived by his three siblings, and his family is currently working to ensure that his journalistic legacy is preserved through archived works.

As investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding his death, the Las Vegas community is left grappling with the tragic loss of a dedicated journalist and the unsettling events that led to this outcome.