A former pro wrestler who won a prominent endorsement from Donald Trump while unsuccessfully running for Congress in Nevada surrendered to authorities on Wednesday on an arrest warrant for murder.
Daniel Rodimer, 45, was booked in connection with the slaying of 47-year-old Christopher Tapp, who was reportedly beaten to death in Resorts World Las Vegas on 29 October.
Rodimer met Tapp – who was once charged with murder himself – “through the classic car and racing circuit”, according to the local television news station KLAS, which reviewed police documents.
Investigators allege that Rodimer fatally attacked Tapp after he offered Rodimer’s stepdaughter cocaine during a hotel room party.
Initially, authorities believed Tapp’s death stemmed from a drug overdose and a fall, after an autopsy found evidence of blunt trauma and cocaine use. But detectives later determined Tapp had been in a fight inside the hotel room where he was found injured. He died later at a hospital.
KLAS reported that a witness told authorities about Tapp allegedly offering cocaine to Rodimer’s stepdaughter, prompting Rodimer to respond: “If you ever talk to my daughter again, I’ll … kill you.”
Another witness claimed to have seen Rodimer “knock [Tapp] to the ground, at which time [Tapp’s] head hit a small table,” KLAS reported, citing the police documents. “[Rodimer] proceeded to punch [Tapp] throughout his head and body”.
Police reportedly later recovered a text message from Rodimer’s wife that read: “I watched you murder somebody like let that sink in your head.”
After turning himself over to police, Rodimer posted $200,000 bail to be released from custody pending the outcome of the case.
A message left at a number associated with Rodimer went unreturned Thursday. He could face life imprisonment if convicted of murdering Tapp.
Rodimer ran for Nevada’s third congressional district seat in 2020 as a Republican, labeling himself as a candidate who believed firmly in the “right to life”. He lost to Democratic representative Susie Lee by just three percentage points.
Before losing the presidency to Joe Biden, Trump endorsed Rodimer, saying he would be “an incredible congressman for Nevada!”
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“A former professional wrestler, he will fight for lower taxes, better education and more jobs, and he will always support our brave law enforcement!” Trump said. “Dan has my complete and total endorsement!”
Mediaite reported that Trump also told Rodimer “we’re with you all the way, Dan” at a 2020 campaign rally.
Rodimer, who briefly wrestled for WWE under the ring name Dan Rodman, unsuccessfully ran for Congress a second time in Texas in 2021, and he claimed Trump again endorsed him. But the former president’s team rebuked Rodimer in that instance, Axios reported.
Tapp himself spent 20 years in prison on a murder and rape conviction. But the conviction was overturned, and he was freed in 2019.