LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The former Nevada congressional candidate accused of murdering a Las Vegas man made his first court appearance on Wednesday morning.
Daniel Rodimer, who challenged Democratic Rep. Susie Lee in 2020, was identified as a suspect in the murder of 47-year-old Christopher Tapp in Oct. 29, 2023.
Rodimer’s attorney, David Chesnoff, filed a motion to suppress findings from a wiretap, due to “marital privileges.” Additionally, Chesnoff noted before a judge that he had requested background on Tapp’s prison sentence, and “propensity for violence.” Something that state prosecutors described as “premature” in this phase of the case.
On that October night, medical arrived at the scene for service regarding Tapp. Police said he suffered from injuries as a result of a “purported accident,” and later died at the hospital.
The Clark County coroner ruled his death as a homicide as a result of “blunt force trauma to the head.”
Victim in Las Vegas Strip homicide was wrongfully convicted man in Idaho
Detectives learned that Tapp was in an altercation inside a room at a resort before being located and transported.
According to the coroner’s report, it was reported that Tapp suffered from an “unwitnessed fall” at Resorts World. Tapp suffered from multiple brain bleeds and died on Nov. 5, 2023.
Rodimer is due in court for a preliminary hearing on May 21.
John Thomas, the Tapp Family’s attorney, held a brief press conference following the hearing, during which he said Vera Tapp, Chris’ mother, plans to be at every court date.
“We’re not here to influence anybody, we just want justice to be served,” he said.
As for being in court again after her son was wrongfully convicted in a 1996 rape and murder case in Idaho, Mr. Thomas shared, “It’s very intimidating to be in that position, Ms. Tapp has been in that position before, where her son was falsely accused of a murder and spent 20 years in prison. It’s bringing a flood of emotions and feelings.”
He added, “It’s tragic and sad. That’s really part of the real tragedy here. Chris did spend much of his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and when he gets out, he tries to rebuild his life… and then this happens. It’s just an epic tragedy.”
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