Ex-congressional candidate wanted in Las Vegas Strip murder turns self in

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Detectives believe former Republican congressional candidate Dan Rodimer attacked a man, killing him, after the man — who himself was acquitted of murder — allegedly offered Rodimer’s stepdaughter cocaine during a party in a Las Vegas Strip hotel room.

Rodimer, 45, turned himself in at the Clark County Detention Center around 6 p.m. Wednesday. Metro police had issued an arrest warrant for Rodimer, the 2020 Republican candidate for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, on one charge of open murder. In 2020, Rodimer, a former professional wrestler, lost his bid to represent Congress against Democratic Rep. Susie Lee.

Rodimer later left Nevada and lost a bid to represent a Texas congressional district.

Rodimer was wanted in the death of Christoper Tapp, 47, of Idaho, LVMPD homicide Lt. Jason Johannson said. Tapp died after an incident inside Resorts World on Oct. 29, 2023, documents said. Tapp served two decades in prison for a homicide he did not commit.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office ruled Tapp’s death a homicide as a result of blunt force trauma to his head. A scan showed he suffered several brain bleeds, documents said.

Tapp’s death was first suspected to be an “apparent overdose” and “fall,” according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. While the incident happened Oct. 29, doctors pronounced Tapp dead at Sunrise Hospital on Nov. 5. His autopsy noted blunt trauma to his head and recent cocaine use.

Through their investigation, detectives learned Tapp was involved in an altercation inside a room at the resort before he was found and taken to the hospital.

According to the arrest warrant the 8 News Now Investigators obtained Wednesday, Rodimer allegedly became upset after Tapp offered Rodimer’s stepdaughter cocaine.

A witness then heard Rodimer say, “If you ever talk to my daughter again, I’ll [expletive] kill you,” documents said. “Immediately after hearing Dan say this to Christopher, [the witness] heard two loud banging noises.”

A second witness told police she saw “Dan knock Christopher to the ground, at which time Christopher’s head hit a small table,” documents said. “Dan proceeded to punch Christopher throughout his head and body.”

Another witness told a person attending the hotel room party that Tapp slipped and fell and hit his head on a coffee table, documents said. Other witnesses told police several people used cocaine at the party.

Investigators also obtained text messages between Rodimer and his wife, Sarah Rodimer, where 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.”

Sarah Rodimer then texted, “I watched you murder somebody like let that sink in your psychopath,” according to police.

Detectives later monitored the Rodimers’ phones in early January.

Tapp and Rodimer knew each other through the classic car and racing circuit, a family attorney told the 8 News Now Investigators.

Rodimer’s stepdaughter’s age was not included in the documents.

An 8 News Now Investigators source previously confirmed that Tapp served two decades in prison for a crime he did not commit. According to the Innocence Project, Tapp was charged and convicted in the 1996 rape and murder of 18-year-old Angie Dodge, despite being excluded by DNA evidence.

On May 28, 1998, a jury convicted Tapp on charges of first-degree murder, rape, and use of a deadly weapon. Tapp was sentenced later that year to life in prison, with a minimum sentence of 30 years for the murder conviction and 10 years for the rape conviction.

On July 17, 2019, Tapp’s murder conviction was vacated. In December 2019, Tapp filed a state court lawsuit seeking damages from the city of Idaho Falls, the Innocence Project said.

Former President Donald Trump had endorsed Rodimer before the 2020 election, tweeting: “Dan Rodimer will be an incredible Congressman for Nevada! A former professional wrestler, he will fight for Lower Taxes, Better Education and More Jobs, and he will always support our Brave Law Enforcement. Dan has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Rodimer lost the 2020 election to Lee by nearly 13,000 votes — or 3 percentage points. He came in eleventh in a 2021 primary to compete for Texas’ 6th Congressional District.

Rodimer’s attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, said their client was prepared to turn himself in ahead of his surrender Wednesday. They added he would be posting a court-ordered bail, adding that Rodimer “intends on vigorously contesting the allegations and asks that the presumption of innocence guaranteed all Americans be respected.”

Before Rodimer’s arrest, Judge Eric Goodman reset bail to $200,000, which Rodimer posted, records said. Rodimer was due to return to court on April 10.

Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 702-385-5555 or at crimestoppersofnv.com/report-a-crime. Information can also be sent via text by sending “CRIMENV” and then your message to “CRIMES” (274637). Crime Stoppers offers a reward for information that leads to a conviction.

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