Las Vegas man allegedly killed uncle with 10-pound weight and hid his body in closet

LAS VEGAS (TCD) -- A 27-year-old man allegedly killed his 56-year-old uncle because he believed he was "engaging in genocide and multiple murders" with the government.

According to a news release from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, on June 27 shortly before 1 p.m., officers responded to the 4400 block of Vegas Valley Drive to a report of a physical altercation, where they found an unresponsive man suffering from visible injuries. Medical personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene.

Police detectives identified the victim’s nephew, Jorge Portell, as the primary suspect, alleging he "battered the victim earlier in the day" in what police described as an "unprovoked attack."

According to a report obtained by KLAS-TV, prior to the discovery, Portell’s mother got a call from the victim, Leonell Blandon, claiming her son was acting "out of control" and throwing chairs and various items at him. Portell’s mother reportedly left work and went home to find Portell cleaning up blood along the floor and walls.

When Portell’s mother asked her son where Blandon was, he refused to tell her, KLAS reports. The mother reportedly exited the home and called 911.

When officers arrived, Portell was still trying to clean up the blood and said he "followed the rules of engagement," KLAS reports. He reportedly told police he was acting in self-defense, and his uncle had attacked him.

Portell then allegedly admitted to police that his uncle’s body was in a bedroom closet and that he had killed him using a "metal object."

According to KLAS, officers found Blandon’s body inside a bedroom closet, and Portell had blocked the door with a table and other objects.

In an interview with police, Portell’s mother reportedly disclosed Blandon was homeless, and she allowed him to live with her temporarily until he "got on his feet."

KLAS reports Portell’s mother said her son had struggled with drugs since he was 14 years old and sold marijuana in high school. She also reportedly stated her son had a child with a woman he allegedly abused.

Portell’s mother allegedly agreed to let her son to live with her as long as he didn’t "do anything crazy, break things, or get physical with her."

However, according to KLAS, Portell’s mother noted that Portell had been "mentally wasted" and talked "crazy about the FBI and the government."

Portell reportedly told police his uncle wasn’t actually his uncle and that he was "engaging in genocide and multiple murders" with the military and the U.S. president.

Portell allegedly used a 10-pound plate to strike his uncle on the back of the head. When Blandon attempted to escape, Portell followed and continued to hit him on the top of the head, KLAS reports.

When Portell thought his uncle was dead, he allegedly dumped his body in the guest bedroom closet before blocking the door.

Police arrested and booked Portell into the Clark County Detention Center on a charge of open murder with a deadly weapon and first-degree kidnapping. He remains held without bail.

MORE:

• Nephew Kills Uncle During Altercation — Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
• ‘He’s dead in my closet:’ Las Vegas man accused of beating uncle to death, hiding body in closet — KLAS
• Clark County Jail Records