Ex-Congressional candidate Daniel Rodimer to face murder trial in 2026 for death of wrongfully convicted man

Former Republican congressional candidate and professional wrestler Daniel Rodimer will stand trial for murder on June 15, 2026, nearly three years after the fatal altercation that killed Christopher Tapp at a Las Vegas Strip hotel.

The fatal Halloween party

Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones set the trial date Thursday for Rodimer, 45, who is accused of killing Tapp, 47, during a Halloween party at Resorts World on October 29, 2023. Tapp died at Sunrise Hospital on November 5 from what the coroner ruled as blunt force trauma to the head.

According to court documents, the confrontation began when Rodimer allegedly became enraged after Tapp offered cocaine to Rodimer’s model stepdaughter, Bella Duffy, during a party hosted by racecar driver John Odom.

Witnesses reported hearing Rodimer threaten Tapp in a bathroom, saying, “If you ever talk to my daughter again, I’ll f—ing kill you,” followed by two loud banging noises. One witness told police they saw Rodimer knock Tapp to the ground, causing his head to hit a table, before continuing to punch him “throughout his head and body.”

Legal challenges and appeals

Rodimer has pleaded not guilty and remains free on $200,000 bail. His defense team, led by attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, has aggressively challenged the prosecution’s case through multiple appeals.

Key legal developments include:

• April 2024: Grand jury indicted Rodimer on murder charges
• April 2025: Nevada Court of Appeals rejected Rodimer’s arguments about witness testimony
• May 2025: Nevada Supreme Court denied petition for review
• Current: Defense continues to argue prosecutors presented “illegal evidence” to grand jury

The defense particularly contests testimony from the Clark County Coroner’s Office, noting that no full autopsy was performed and questioning the credibility of witnesses who were allegedly intoxicated during the incident.

The victim’s tragic story

Christopher Tapp’s death adds a heartbreaking final chapter to an already tragic life story. Tapp had spent 20 years in Idaho prison for a rape and murder he didn’t commit before being exonerated in 2019.

Tapp’s wrongful conviction timeline:

• 1998: Convicted of murdering 18-year-old Angie Dodge in Idaho Falls
• 2017: Rape conviction vacated after coerced confession allegations
• 2019: Murder conviction overturned after DNA evidence identified the real killer
• 2021: Received $11.7 million settlement from Idaho Falls plus $1.2 million from the state

After his release, Tapp became an advocate for the wrongfully convicted, working with Idaho legislators to pass compensation laws for those wrongly imprisoned. He found solace in the racing community, which ultimately led him to Las Vegas and the fatal encounter with Rodimer.

Rodimer’s political past

Daniel Rodimer, a former professional wrestler from New Jersey, had unsuccessfully sought political office multiple times:

• 2020: Lost Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District race to Democrat Susie Lee by 3 percentage points
• 2021: Finished 11th in Texas’ 6th Congressional District special election primary, receiving less than 3% of votes

The case has attracted significant media attention due to both men’s high-profile backgrounds – Rodimer as a failed political candidate and Tapp as a symbol of wrongful conviction.

Civil litigation pending

Beyond the criminal case, a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against multiple parties including:

• Resorts World Las Vegas
• John Odom and Odom Racing
• Vegas Nights VIP

The civil suit alleges negligence in failing to provide security and claims that after the attack, Odom told others not to call security and misled responders by saying Tapp had simply slipped and fallen.

Looking ahead

The June 2026 trial date means justice will come slowly for Tapp’s family and friends. Prosecutors have indicated they will not seek the death penalty in the case.

For those who knew Tapp, including Idaho Innocence Project director Greg Hampikian, the delay feels particularly cruel. “That was Chris – Chris wanted to race cars, and hang out with the folks who were racing cars,” Hampikian said. “He got swept up into it.”

The case serves as a tragic reminder that Tapp, after losing two decades to wrongful imprisonment, had only a few years of freedom before his life was allegedly taken in a moment of violence at a Las Vegas hotel party.

Image Sources: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trial-scheduled-ex-republican-congressional-181647413.html

Category: Local News
Subcategory: Crime & Courts
Date: 08/08/2025