By Ahmed Abdelsalam
An audit of the Clark County Public Administrator’s Office has uncovered eight “high-risk” issues, including nearly 1,900 open cases and $623,000 in collected fees that were not transferred to the county.
Audit Findings
The audit, covering 2024 to 2026, found long delays in case processing, unpaid fees, high staff turnover, and security lapses. The office manages estates of deceased residents with no next of kin, handling property, vehicles, and personal belongings. Auditors reported 1,808 cases closed over the two-year period, averaging 532 days each, with 59 percent of cases open more than two years. More than 147 vehicles and over 4,500 personal property items, including firearms and jewelry, remain in storage. The office also holds 289 undeposited checks, some for years, and 105 human cremains plus six pet cremains, many over three years old. The county crypt is full, preventing proper disposal. Additionally, unauthorized individuals accessed inventory areas, and vault technicians can modify records without oversight, creating theft risk.
Financial and Operational Concerns
The department collected $623,000 in fee revenue but stopped forwarding it to Clark County in February 2024. The audit recommended a two-year timeline for case closure. Auditors requested an action plan from the office but had not received a response as of October 22.
History of Turmoil
The office has a troubled past. Former Public Administrator Robert Telles murdered Las Vegas Review-Journal journalist Jeff German in 2022 after German investigated Telles’ conduct. Telles, who served two years, also had an affair with a subordinate. Interim administrator Mike Murphy, who served 11 months after Telles’ arrest, said many problems date to Telles’ leadership and the stress caused by German’s reporting.
Candidates Respond
Current Public Administrator Rita Page Reid, who is not seeking re-election, declined to comment. Two candidates are running to succeed her: Republican Mike Murphy, the former interim administrator and county coroner, and Democrat Stephanie Itkin-Goodman, a deputy attorney general. Both expressed concern over the audit findings. Murphy said the audit provides a roadmap for reform, while Itkin-Goodman called for independent leadership and immediate safeguards. Both candidates also addressed the security breach, with Murphy suggesting body cameras and Itkin-Goodman labeling the lapse a failure.
