Chad Ollinger, a jailed Discovery Channel reality show star who faces a murder charge after his cellmate was found dead at the Clark County Detention Center, is led into a courtroom for his initial court appearance, at the Regional Justice Center, on Tuesday, Dec 30, 2025, in Las Vegas. Photo: TNS
Discovery Channel reality star Chad Ollinger told police he killed his cellmate because he just “knew” the man was a paedophile, despite lacking any evidence to support the claim, authorities said.
Ollinger, 41, was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation at his first court appearance Tuesday (Dec 30). He’s accused of killing 42-year-old Christopher Kelly, who was found dead on Friday night in the Las Vegas jail cell the men shared.
Authorities have not revealed why Kelly was locked up, and he’s no longer listed in Las Vegas’ online jail records. But cops said Ollinger was convinced Kelly was a paedophile, according to local Fox affiliate KVVU.
“If I know something about somebody that’s bad, I take care of it,” Ollinger told officers, according to an arrest report obtained by the station. He claimed to have a “supernatural ability” to read people and know things about them, police said.
Cops said Ollinger admitted to placing Kelly in a chokehold on Kelly’s bed, then smashing his face into a post, TMZ reported. Jail guards found Kelly unconscious on the floor of the cell with blood on his face.
Ollinger allegedly told the guards, “He’s not feeling good,” local NBC affiliate KSNV reported. He later told investigators, “Good luck cracking the case.”
Ollinger was initially arrested in October for trespassing at the Encore hotel, according to KVVU. His release was set for Jan. 12.
On the Discovery Channel, Ollinger starred on Mystery At Blind Frog Ranch, where he helped his father search for treasure on their property in eastern Utah. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
