A former congressional candidate in both Texas and Nevada, Daniel Rodimer, turned himself in to Las Vegas police last Wednesday after an arrest warrant was filed in court for a charge of open murder.
According to court records, a $200,000 bail was set, and shortly after Rodimer posted bond. He is now expected in court on April 10.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said in a statement that Rodimer was wanted in connection with the death of 47-year-old Christopher Tapp.
Police acknowledged in January that Tapp was found suffering injuries purportedly from an accident at Resorts World Las Vegas on Oct. 29, 2023. He later died at Sunrise Hospital on Nov. 5.
According to detectives, Tapp was involved in a fight inside a hotel room during a Halloween masquerade party where Rodimer was dressed as a “Ken” (of Barbie fame) doll.
Tapp was described as “an Idaho man who spent two decades in prison after he was wrongfully convicted,” according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Other reports revealed he was exonerated by DNA tests.
A “fun room” at the party “included lines of cocaine laid out beside a hundred-dollar bill,” a local television station reported.
“If you give my daughter any of that (expletive), I will (expletive) kill you,” Rodimer is accused of telling Tapp, referring to Rodimer’s stepdaughter, who had accompanied him to the party, Fox5 reported.
They added that witnesses believed Rodimer ran into the room to fight Tapp. A witness said that Rodimer knocked Tapp down, and Tapp hit his head on a table. Fox5 also noted that the witness accused Rodimer of continuing to punch Tapp “throughout his head and body.”
The Clark County Coroner’s office ruled his death a homicide in January, saying the cause was blunt force trauma to the head.
A criminal complaint filed by the Clark County District Attorney’s office alleges Rodimer killed Tapp by striking him “on the head, the said killing having been willful, deliberate and premeditated.”
An autopsy report indicated Tapp’s death was initially suspected to be an “apparent overdose” and “fall.” The Clark County Coroner’s Office later determined Tapp’s death was a homicide and the cause was blunt force trauma to the head. The report said radiology found “multiple brain bleeds.” Tapp’s autopsy also reported recent cocaine use.
Tapp, in an interview regarding how he was wrongfully convicted of the Idaho murder and served 20 years in prison, told NBC News’ “Dateline” in September that he wanted to become an advocate for providing fair compensation to others who have been wrongfully convicted.
Rodimer was a professional wrestler who competed in different circuits, including under the ring name Dan Rodman.
He ran for and won the Republican primary for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional district in 2020. He broke voting and fundraising records in the district and barely lost to incumbent Rep. Susie Lee.
In 2021, Rodimer, the father of six children, moved back to Texas to run for Congress there. He had previously lived in Houston and worked as a homebuilder and owned a home in Galveston.
He had three prior arrests in Florida on suspicion of assault but no convictions.
In 2018, Las Vegas police responded after Rodimer’s now-wife called 911 twice alleging domestic violence and that he stole guns and jewelry. Rodimer was not arrested or detained in either incident.
Resorts World is on the site of the former Stardust, a longtime 32-story Las Vegas landmark that closed in 2006 and was imploded in 2007. The Stardust was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in 1958 with 1,500 rooms.
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The irony of surviving 20 years of false incarceration, being the recipient of $11.7 million dollars from the lawsuit from the false arrest and incarceration, then being killed because he took a man’s step daughter to a party supplying drugs in a fun room.
Yes, the ex-wrestler was upset, but being physical, especially concerning the deceased’s head, was not a smart move. Tragic story throughout.
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