In a sad and confusing turn of events, the murder of a Las Vegas reporter finished in the rough highways of Utah, where the suspected killer died during a dramatic police chase.
Matthew Kelemen, a freelance writer who worked for Las Vegas Magazine and was 56 years old, was found dead in a shocking scene that shocked people in the area. On May 20, his body was found in a storage container at a downtown Las Vegas luggage storage facility. It was wrapped in a tarp and locked inside. Employees noticed the strong, bad smell and went to check it out.
The container was rented through a mobile app that lets you drop off your bags, and it was left there just a few days before, on May 16. The finding led to a quick investigation, which focused on 63-year-old Joseph Del Rivo, who was Kelemen’s roommate and is now the main suspect in the case.
But Del Rivo died in a high-speed crash in Utah, almost 700 miles away, before police could fully figure out what happened with Kelemen’s death.
What a Scary Find in Las Vegas
Kelemen had been living with Del Rivo for about six months. He was a keen guitarist and well-known writer. Kelemen’s family says that the last time they talked was on the phone, where Matthew said that he didn’t like where he was staying.
His sister told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “He said he felt really unsafe living there.” “He said, ‘That guy was a disgusting slob.'” Matt said, “Okay, I’ll tell him.” “All I can think about is how he will react.”
Sadly, violence would soon cast those fears into the background.
Later, police records showed that Kelemen probably died from being hit hard. The facts point to a violent fight, but there aren’t many details because the investigation stopped when the suspect died.
The sad finding was made even stranger by the fact that Kelemen’s sister thought the storage container might have been one of her brother’s amplifier boxes.
She said, “We think that might have been one of my brother’s amplifier boxes.” “Matt played guitar and had speaker amps. It was a big black box.”
The dangerous chase in Utah
The Utah Highway Patrol was told that Joseph Del Rivo was involved in a separate high-speed chase on Interstate 70 on May 21, just one day after Kelemen’s body was found.
A trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol said that Del Rivo was going over 90 mph eastbound. When the police officer turned on the emergency lights, Del Rivo sped up even more, going over 140 mph.
The chase went on for about 10 miles. In an effort to stop the car, troopers used spike strips, which punctured the tires on the driver’s side. Even though there was damage, Del Rivo kept going fast for three more miles until the left front tire started to fail.
At about mile marker 30, police tried to stop him with a second set of spike strips. Del Rivo tried to avoid them but lost control in the end. His car went off the road and flipped over several times, throwing him out of the car.
The 63-year-old driver was seriously hurt in the accident and died at the scene.
Justice Not Done, Questions Still Alive
The case has not been solved since Del Rivo’s death, leaving Kelemen’s family and the people of Las Vegas with more questions than solutions.
Kelemen’s sister said, “This has been terrible.” “We hoped Matt would get justice, but now there’s no end to the story.”
The police are still trying to figure out what happened before the killing and why Del Rivo fled across state lines, killing himself. The murder’s reason is still unknown, and no other suspects have been named.
Thoughts on Matthew Kelemen
People will remember Matthew Kelemen as a hardworking writer and musician who was known for being creative and curious. His death brings attention to the risks people face when they are not together.
Now that the investigation has stopped, his family and friends are asking anyone with knowledge to come forward. They want answers and justice, even if the man who is accused of the crime can’t be held accountable.
This sad story shows how quickly things can change and how some secrets don’t lead to justice but to silence. Even though one of their own has died, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Utah Highway Patrol are still working together.
“This article was written by Mathew Owen. AI tools were used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.”
