A star of the Discovery Channel has been charged with murder after allegedly killing his jail cellmate, claiming a 'supernatural ability' told him the victim was a paedophile.
The Fatal Night in a Las Vegas Cell
Chad Ollinger, 41, known for appearing on Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, is accused of strangling his cellmate, 42-year-old Chris Kelly, at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. The incident occurred on December 26, after the evening meal, according to an arrest report obtained by local Fox affiliate KVVU.
Officers found Kelly unresponsive with a bloodied face around 11:20 p.m. during medicine distribution. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. Ollinger was moved to another cell while police investigated.
'Righteous' Act Motivated by Claimed Psychic Power
During interviews, Ollinger reportedly confessed to the killing, describing it as a 'righteous' act. He told investigators he was gifted with a 'supernatural ability' to read minds and learn intimate details about people, which led him to 'know' Kelly was a paedophile.
However, the arrest record states he admitted to having no hard evidence to support this belief. He allegedly told police, 'If I know something about somebody that’s bad, I take care of it.' Ollinger described the killing as a spur-of-the-moment act, claiming he 'snaps' when he begins to 'know' things.
Inmates in neighbouring cells reported hearing a vicious fight and a man screaming, 'They’re beating me, they’re killing me... help me.' Ollinger later detailed strangling Kelly for four or five minutes as he screamed.
Legal Repercussions and Troubled History
On December 27, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced Ollinger had been rebooked on an open murder charge. This means prosecutors are investigating whether to charge him with first- or second-degree murder, based on premeditation.
Ollinger has had previous encounters with law enforcement. In 2024, he was arrested in Texas after an alleged chase involving a motorcycle and a foot pursuit. Inmate records show he was arrested on October 27 as a fugitive from another state and also faces a contempt of court charge.
The LVMPD Homicide Section continues to investigate the cellmate's death. Ollinger allegedly told officers he felt no emotional reaction to the killing and was not worried about a potential life sentence.
