Dan Rodimer, Ex-Wrestler and Congressional Candidate, Charged with Las Vegas Casino Murder

Article ByDavid Weir

March 7, 2024

Spread the Word:

Posted in: US Casino News, Nevada Gambling News

Daniel Rodimer (pictured), a two-time congressional candidate and former WWE wrestler, has turned himself in to Las Vegas Police on charges he murdered Christopher Tapp, 42, in a Resorts World Las Vegas hotel room in October 2023.

Tapp was found seriously injured in the Las Vegas Strip hotel room on October 29 last year. He later died in a hospital from injuries coroners ruled as blunt force trauma to the head.

Tapp himself had previously spent two decades in prison on murder charges, but was eventually proved innocent and exonerated.

Police initially believed the death to be an accident. During their investigation, it came to light that Rodimer, 45, had allegedly argued and been in a fight with Tapp before his death.

The arrest documents allege that Rodimer became angry with Tapp after he offered the ex-wrestler’s stepdaughter cocaine during a party at the hotel room.

“He intends on vigorously contesting the allegations and asks that the presumption of innocence guaranteed all Americans be respected,” said Rodimer’s attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, on Wednesday.

Tapp’s Death

Tapp’s death was initially suspected to be an accident, as that is what the initial emergency caller said had happened.

However, when new witnesses from the party came forward, police opened up a criminal investigation.

That involved tapping the phone of Rodimer and his wife, Sarah.

Police then found messages that related to the events on both of Rodimer’s phones.

“I watched you murder somebody like let that sink in your psychopath,” said one of the texts from Mrs. Rodimer, according to police filings.

Rodimer’s Career

The accused, Daniel Rodimer, has had an interesting career as a wrestler and a politician.

Born in New Jersey, he moved to Florida to play college football in the early 2000s, playing for the South Florida Bulls.

He wrestled for one year in the WWE between 2006 to 2007 under the ring name Dan Rodman.

After leaving wrestling, he worked as a personal trainer in Las Vegas for a decade before entering politics.

Running as a Republican, he lost a 2018 state Senate election, and in 2019, he lost a bid to be the House representative for Nevada’s third district.

Shortly after that, Rodimer and his family moved to Texas, where he ran for a Lone Star State congress seat in 2021. He lost, getting just 3% of the vote, despite a ringing endorsement from Donald Trump.

Throughout this time, Rodimer was booked on several assault accusations, but was never charged.

Previous Charges

In a twist in the tale, Tapp himself spent some time in the spotlight in his life for more infamous reasons. The Idaho native was charged with rape and murder in 1996.

Tapp always claimed he was not guilty, but he was convicted in 1998 and spent 21 years in prison.

In 2019, his conviction was vacated after new DNA evidence was used to exonerate him.

He then pursued a wrongful conviction lawsuit against the City of Idaho Falls, and was compensated $11.4 million.

Tapp allegedly met Rodimer through their shared passion for classic cars and racing.

The two would then be at the same Las Vegas party on the night Tapp died.

Rodimer allegedly threatened and then punched Tapp twice, knocking him down. His head hit a table as he fell.

One witness told police they saw Rodimer become angry with Tapp after his stepdaughter was offered cocaine.

Another says Rodimer continued to punch the victim when he was on the ground, unable to defend himself.

Rodimer’s attorneys say he intends to post bail, although on murder charges, Clark County could well deny bail.

Murders at Nevada casinos on the Las Vegas Strip are relatively rare, but not unknown. In mid 2023, one man was fatally shot in a Caesars Palace hotel room, with Sin City cops tracking down the suspects via their Instagram posts.