New details are emerging about the open murder charge against Chad Ollinger, one of the stars of Discovery Channel’s Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch.
Ollinger, 41, is accused of killing his cellmate, Christopher Kelly, 42, inside the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas on Friday, December 26. The reality TV star was in detention on charges of being a fugitive from another state and contempt of court when the incident occurred.
Ollinger allegedly admitted to killing Kelly, 42, who he suspected of being a pedophile, reported TMZ, The Las Vegas Review-Journal and Fox 5 Vegas, on Tuesday, December 30, citing a police arrest report.
The suspect told officers he should not be charged because it was a “righteous” killing, according to the arrest report obtained by the outlets.
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Ollinger allegedly told officers he had a “supernatural ability” to read people and that, “If I know something about somebody that’s bad, I take care of it,” per Fox 5 Vegas. The outlet reported that Ollinger claimed he suspected Kelly was a pedophile because of his supernatural ability and said he had a “responsibility” to identify predators. He reportedly said he had no proof that Kelly was a predator beyond his supernatural power.
Police wrote in their report that Ollinger allegedly killed his cellmate by strangulation and smashing his head against a metal bed frame, per multiple reports.
Both men were discovered with injuries. Kelly had multiple lacerations, abrasions and contusions, said the Las Vegas Review-Journal report, while Ollinger exhibited an abrasion and scratches.
After discovering Kelly’s body, Ollinger was taken to a different cell. When police detectives arrived to photograph his injuries, he told them, “Good luck cracking the case,” the police report said.
The Review-Journal reported that Ollinger appeared before a judge at Las Vegas Justice Court on Tuesday, where Justice of the Peace Eric Goodman told him, “Your attorney has some concerns about your mental health. They want you to go up and talk to the doctors.”
Online records viewed by Us Weekly show that Ollinger is expected to undergo a competency hearing on January 21, 2026, before a Las Vegas competency court.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department previously announced the open murder charge against Ollinger in a Saturday, December 27, press release. According to the release, corrections officers found a male inmate — now identified as Kelly — dead inside a prison cell during a routine inspection late Friday.
Officers “observed a male inmate lying motionless inside of a cell” at around 11:20 p.m. local time on Friday, the LVMPD said. “Officers made entry and observed the inmate was suffering from apparent blunt force injuries.”
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“Officers immediately rendered aid to the victim and requested for CCDC medical personnel to respond, but unfortunately, he was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the statement continued.
Homicide detectives subsequently rebooked Ollinger for open murder.
Ollinger and his father, Duane Ollinger, star on Discovery Channel’s Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, which follows their efforts to uncover what they believe to be buried treasure under their Utah ranch. The show premiered in 2021 and concluded its fifth season in August.
Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for the Discovery Channel and Anomaly Entertainment, which produces the show, for comment.
