Ex-congressional candidate pleads not guilty to Las Vegas hotel room murder

David Charns
·2 min read

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The former Republican congressional candidate and ex-wrestler charged with murder pleaded not guilty Wednesday to beating another man to death inside a Las Vegas hotel room.

Dan Rodimer, 45, is accused of punching Christopher Tapp, 47, inside Resorts World on the Las Vegas Strip on Oct. 29, 2023, leading to Tapp’s death.

Doctors pronounced Tapp dead at a Las Vegas hospital on Nov. 5, 2023. The Clark County coroner’s office ruled Tapp’s death a homicide as a result of blunt force trauma to his head, documents said. A scan showed he suffered several brain bleeds.

<em>Dan Rodimer dressed as a shirtless “Ken” when he allegedly beat another man to death inside a Las Vegas hotel room, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. (KLAS)</em>
Dan Rodimer dressed as a shirtless “Ken” when he allegedly beat another man to death inside a Las Vegas hotel room, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. (KLAS)

A Clark County grand jury indicted Rodimer on the murder charge last month. In court Wednesday, Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones scheduled a trial for February 2025.

It was initially suspected Tapp died of an “apparent overdose” and “fall,” according to documents obtained by 8 News Now Investigators. However, after interviews with witnesses, police believe Rodimer attacked Tapp after he allegedly offered Rodimer’s model stepdaughter, Bella Duffy, cocaine during a Halloween party for racecar driver John Odom at the Crocksford hotel inside the resort.

Investigators later said they learned Tapp — who himself was acquitted of murder after serving two decades in prison — had been involved in an altercation inside the hotel room before he was found and taken to the hospital.

<em>FILE – In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, from left, Christopher Tapp, Republican Rep. Doug Ricks and Charles Fain appeared before the Idaho House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee in Boise, Idaho, to testify in favor of legislation that would compensate the wrongly convicted. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler, File)</em>
FILE – In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, from left, Christopher Tapp, Republican Rep. Doug Ricks and Charles Fain appeared before the Idaho House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee in Boise, Idaho, to testify in favor of legislation that would compensate the wrongly convicted. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler, File)

“I thought it was a no brainer, it seems appropriate,” John Thomas, the attorney for Tapp’s family, said about the indictment. “It’s the ultimate tragedy.”

In 2020, Rodimer lost his bid to represent Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District against Democratic Rep. Susie Lee. Rodimer lost the election by nearly 13,000 votes — or 3 percentage points. He later left Nevada and lost a bid to represent Texas’ 6th Congressional District, coming in 11th in a 2021 primary.

Rodimer remained out of jail on a $200,000 bond. His attorneys said they intended to challenge the indictment within three weeks.

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