Daniel Rodimer, a retired professional wrestler and former congressional candidate, surrendered to authorities in Nevada on Wednesday following the issuance of an arrest warrant in connection with the death of Christopher Tapp at a Las Vegas Strip hotel last year.
The pro wrestler won a prominent endorsement from Donald Trump while unsuccessfully running for Congress in Nevada.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department had issued a warrant for Rodimer’s arrest on a charge of open murder in relation to Tapp’s death.
Tapp, 47, was treated on October 29 after being found at the hotel with a head injury. Despite medical intervention, he succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a hospital.
Rodimer’s legal representatives, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, confirmed his voluntary surrender, stating that he would post bail as ordered by the court.
They explained that it is Rodimer’s intention to contest the allegations vigorously and urged respect for the presumption of innocence.
According to police, a suspicious death investigation was initiated after receiving new information on Nov. 22 regarding the circumstances of Tapp’s injuries.
The investigation revealed that Tapp was involved in an altercation inside a hotel room before being discovered and taken to the hospital.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office later determined Tapp’s death to be a homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head.
Rodimer, a former Republican congressional candidate who challenged Democratic Representative Susie Lee for Nevada’s District 3 seat in 2020, lost the election by approximately 13,000 votes.
He subsequently relocated to Texas and participated in a special congressional election in 2021 to fill the seat vacated by Republican Ron Wright.
Despite his political endeavors, Rodimer’s involvement in the Las Vegas killing has cast a shadow over his public image and legal standing.
