Former Trump-backed U.S. Congressional candidate Daniel Rodimer, right (seen here in 2020), allegedly killed exonerated murderer Christopher Tapp, left, middle (seen here in 2021) at a Halloween party in a Las Vegas hotel. Rodimer is facing a murder charge. (Rodimer: AP Photo/John Locher; Tapp: AP Photo/Keith Ridler)
A former congressional candidate and retired professional wrestler allegedly killed an exonerated murderer during a cocaine-filled Halloween party on the Las Vegas Strip.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for murder on 45-year-old Daniel Rodimer in the death of Christopher Tapp. According to the agency, detectives in late November learned of a suspicious death that occurred on Oct. 29 in the 3000 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard. Medical personnel were called to a room in a resort and found Tapp, 47, suffering from injuries after a “purported accident.” Paramedics rushed Tapp to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on Nov. 5.
Detectives later learned Tapp was involved in an “altercation,” police said. The Clark County Coroner’s Office has since ruled Tapp’s death a homicide as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.
According to an arrest affidavit released to media outlets, the alleged argument between Rodimer and Tapp occurred after Tapp reportedly offered Rodimer’s stepdaughter cocaine. Rodimer became “visibly upset” and ran into the bathroom where Tapp was and yelled, “If you ever talk to my daughter again, I’ll f—— kill you,” the documents reportedly said. Witnesses said they heard two loud banging noises after Rodimer allegedly punched Tapp. Paramedics arrived about 20 or 30 minutes later to take Tapp to the hospital.
Other witnesses reportedly said that Rodimer was the instigator and repeatedly punched Tapp in the head and body. Tapp never fought back, the witnesses reportedly said.
Court documents reportedly said Rodimer was dressed as “Ken” from Barbie and wearing a fur jacket with no shirt. The bathroom where the alleged incident occurred was the “fun room” that included lines of cocaine next to a $100 bill on a table, according to documents.
Rodimer, a Republican, is a two-time failed Congressional candidate. He first ran in 2020 for a seat in the Vegas area but lost to incumbent Democratic Rep. Susie Lee despite an endorsement from then-President Donald Trump. Then he moved to Texas in 2021 to run for a seat vacated after the death of Republican Ron Wright, but he only received about 3% of the vote. He also ran unsuccessfully for the Nevada State Senate in 2018.
Before his political aspirations, he rose to fame as a professional wrestler. He became a contest in the 2004 season of Tough Enough and performed for World Wrestling Entertainment under the name Dan Rodman in 2007.
Tapp made headlines but for different reasons.
At 20, he was arrested on murder and rape charges in the death of 18-year-old Angie Dodge in 1997 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. A jury later convicted Tapp based on a taped confession and a witness who claimed she overheard Tapp and another man talking about the crime. He was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
But an innocence center later determined the confession was coerced with cops feeding him details of the murder, DPIC said. Prosecutors in 2017 agreed to drop the rape charge and allowed him to end his sentence with the time he had already served. Two years later, DNA evidence tied another man, Brian Dripps, to the crime. He admitted to carrying out the murder and rape, and prosecutors formally dismissed the charges against Tapp.
The DPIC reports that Tapp won a $11.7 million settlement with Idaho Falls.
Rodimer turned himself in on Wednesday and posted a $200,000 bail.
“He intends on vigorously contesting the allegations and asks that the presumption of innocence guaranteed all Americans be respected,” his lawyers said in a statement.
