Posted on: May 9, 2024, 10:04h.
Last updated on: May 9, 2024, 10:04h.
A former professional wrestler and two-time Congressional candidate entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday in connection with a Resorts World Las Vegas homicide case.
Daniel Rodimer, 45, who now resides in Texas, announced the plea in a brief court appearance.
He’s charged with murder in connection with the November death of Christopher Tapp following a violent incident at Resorts World.
Rodimer’s legal team, Richard Schonfeld, and David Chesnoff, well-known Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys, told District Judge Tierra Jones they will challenge Rodimer’s indictment, according to the Associated Press.
Rodimer “vigorously denies any responsibility for the allegations,” Chesnoff later added when speaking with reporters, the AP reported.
Tapp, 47, died from injuries suffered after hitting his head on a table in a hotel room on October 29, authorities said. Rodimer allegedly assaulted him after Tapp offered Rodimer’s stepdaughter suspected cocaine during a Halloween party, according to police accounts.
If you ever talk to my daughter again, I’ll [expletive] kill you,” Rodimer threatened Tapp, a witness revealed to police, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS. That outburst was followed by two loud banging noises, the witness added.
A few days after the confrontation, Tapp passed away while a patient at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
Initially, the death was believed to be accidental. But police called it suspicious. Later, the death was ruled a homicide by the Clark County coroner’s office. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
Following the incident, text messages between Rodimer and his wife, Sarah Rodimer, said, “I watched you nearly murder somebody and I had to take your [expletive] hands off from his neck as he laid there and you ran away and I spent the next two hours trying to take care of him. Nobody should have to watch their husband murder somebody.”
On March 6, Rodimer was arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers. He was released from custody after posting $200K bond.
Wrongful Conviction
Tapp gained attention after he was awarded $11.7M in a lawsuit for being wrongfully convicted in Idaho for a 1996 homicide.
He spent two decades in prison.
In 2019, Tapp had been convicted by a jury on charges of first-degree murder, rape, and the use of a deadly weapon.
Later, new evidence was presented and he was released and exonerated.
Congressional Races
In recent years, Rodimer attempted to get elected to Congress as a Republican in races in both Texas and Nevada. Both efforts failed.
In 2020, he attempted to capture Nevada’s third congressional district seat, which was held by incumbent Rep. Susie Lee (D). He lost by about 13K votes.
Before his political career, Rodimer was a pro wrestler. He was called “Dan Rodman” in the ring.
