A longtime Las Vegas journalist’s worst fears about his roommate sadly came true. Matthew Kelemen, 56, was found murdered inside a storage container after telling his family he felt unsafe living with his roommate. Days later, the suspected killer died during a high-speed police chase.
Body Found in Storage Container Near Fremont Street
On May 20, 2024, Las Vegas Metro Police discovered Kelemen’s body in a plastic bin wrapped in a tarp. Officers were responding to reports of a bad smell near Fremont Street. When they arrived, they found the container and opened it to discover the decomposing remains.
Police believe Kelemen died from blunt force trauma, and reports suggest he was hit from behind with a hammer. Investigators also said he was shoved into a large black crate, possibly one of his amplifier boxes, as Kelemen played guitar and had music equipment at home.
Roommate Identified as Main Suspect
Police quickly linked the crime to Kelemen’s roommate, Joseph Del Rivo. According to documents obtained by local news outlets, the storage unit where the body was found had been rented through a storage app by Del Rivo.
Kelemen’s sister, Mikki Zaferatos, said her brother had lived with Del Rivo for only six months but had often told family he didn’t feel safe. “He said he was a disgusting slob, and he was really uneasy living there,” she told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Kelemen had been planning to move out and was even preparing to confront his roommate.
Suspect Dies in Police Chase
Just one day after Kelemen’s body was found, Del Rivo was killed in Utah during a high-speed police chase. The Utah Highway Patrol said Del Rivo was driving over 90 mph and refused to stop when officers tried to pull him over…