Las Vegas journalist found in container died from ‘homicidal violence,’ coroner says

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A journalist, whose body was located in a large container earlier this year, was beaten to death, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained Monday.

Joseph Del Rivo, 63, killed Matthew Kelemen, 56, sometime before May 15, documents said. Kelemen was a freelance journalist who wrote for “Las Vegas Magazine.”

Nearly a week after the murder, on Tuesday, May 20, Las Vegas Metro police discovered Kelemen’s remains after getting a report of the smell near a business on North 3rd Street in Downtown Las Vegas. A person called police that morning, saying a box dropped off on May 16 had a foul odor coming from it. Police cut off the box’s lock, finding Kelemen’s body wrapped in a tarp.

Inside the box, police located “a music stand, a bottle of ketchup, hat and shoes, and several bags,” documents said.

Las Vegas journalist found dead in container; roommate accused of murder dies in crash

The coroner’s office later ruled Kelemen’s death as homicide caused by “homicide violence due to assault,” documents said. Police documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained in May also indicated detectives suspected Kelemen died of blunt force trauma.

Del Rivo later died in a high-speed chase in Utah. A press release matching the date of the crash and age of the victim said that the driver sped off from a trooper at 140 miles an hour on Interstate 70. After several miles, the driver lost control and was ejected from the vehicle.

Toxicology testing revealed Kelemen had alcohol and THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, in his system at the time of his death, documents said.

Kelemen’s work appeared in publications such as “The Daily Beast,” “Las Vegas Sun” and “Las Vegas Weekly,” according to his Muck Rack profile. His most recent article, published after his death, was a review of Janet Jackson’s residency.

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