Sartaj Singh
‘The Past Comes Knocking’ follows Susan Shaw, once a fearless investigative journalist who has left her high-stakes career behind. Now a respected professor, Susan has traded the chaotic world of breaking news for the quiet life of academia, focusing on raising her daughter, Autumn. However, when people close to her begin dying one by one, Susan realizes that her past has caught up with her. Desperate to protect Autumn, Susan reaches out to former colleagues and friends from her old life, hoping to narrow down who among her many powerful targets of reporting is behind the deaths. The Lifetime mystery thriller narrates a story of powerful emotions, twists, and revenge, with its investigative journalist angle leading to questions about real-life inspirations.
The Past Comes Knocking is a Fictional Tale of Retribution Against a Journalist
The story of ‘The Past Comes Knocking’ is written by Geoffrey D. Calhoun and is not based on actual events. Its narrative gains authenticity as it explores the dangers present in an investigative journalist’s life, even after they have walked away from the profession. Unfortunately, there are far too many cases of investigative journalists and whistleblowers being intentionally targeted by the people they expose.
The case of 69-year-old journalist Jeff German is an unfortunate reminder of the danger posed to those in the profession. German was an investigative journalist with the Las Vegas Review-Journal and was tasked with writing about former Democrat official Robert Telles and the department he headed after being elected Clark County public administrator in 2018. German seemingly uncovered unflattering details of Telles’ behavior in office and wrote several articles alleging hostile behavior and an inappropriate relationship with a member of his staff. In 2022, German lost his primary for a second term election as Clark County public administrator. The politician likely blamed the reporter’s articles for an unfavorable turnout against him and set out to exact revenge.
Real-Life Murder of Investigative Journalist Jeff German For Revenge
On September 2, 2022, Robert Telles armed himself with a knife and waited outside German’s house in Las Vegas, hiding in a bush, wearing a straw hat. Just as the senior journalist exited his home, Telles stabbed him seven times in the torso and neck. Security camera footage caught Telles approaching the house in his SUV, and the straw hat and clothes seen in it were found at his house in a damaged state. The politician’s defense claimed that the evidence had been planted at his home and that the articles German wrote were not valid motives for murder. However, DNA evidence confirmed Telles’ guilt beyond doubt, finding traces of the killer’s DNA on the victim’s nails. In August 2024, Tekkes was sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 20 years.
“Jeff (German) was killed for doing the kind of work in which he took great pride,” read a statement issued by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “His reporting held an elected official accountable for bad behavior and empowered voters to choose someone else for the job.” Several members of the organization had shown up to the hearing, wearing pins with German’s face on them. “Justice has been served,” said Clark County prosecutor Steve Wolfson in a statement. “Today’s verdict should send a message, and that message is a clear message that any attempts to silence the media or to silence or intimidate a journalist will not be tolerated.”
While ‘The Past Comes Knocking’ is not based on actual events, its premise of an investigative journalist’s profession and past threatening them lends credibility to the narrative given the numerous real life news stories we hear of the same. The production team also has a pivotal role in breathing life into the story, with vivid depictions, believable performances, and a carefully crafted atmosphere that leads to immersion through its suspense.
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