Daniel Rodimer, 45, the former Tough Enough contestant charged with murder, is looking to have the case against him dismissed.
FOX5 in Las Vegas reports his attorneys claim that a coroner’s report has concluded the victim’s injuries were “result of drug and alcohol use and were not suspicious” and that in going through Rodimer’s texts to his wife and his lawyers, the prosecution also violated violated attorney, client and spousal privileges.
Police claim Rodimer’s wife Sarah wrote in a text message to him: “I watched you nearly murder somebody and I had to take your f—–g hands off from his neck as he laid there and you ran away and I spent the next two hours trying to take care of him. Nobody should have to watch their husband murder somebody.”
Rodimer has been charged with killing Christopher Tapp, 47. Tapp was found injured in his hotel room and later died in hospital.
Officials believed at first Tapp’s death was an accident due to an overdose but now have evidence that Tapp was in fact murdered. Medical officials at the time of the arrest concluded he died of blunt force trauma to the head.
It seems that the men knew each other through their mutual interest in classic cars and racing.
KLAS-TV reported that police documents stated Rodimer allegedly became enraged when Tapp offered his stepdaughter cocaine during a party.
The report also states that a witness said authorities Rodimer warned Tapp: “If you ever talk to my daughter again, I’ll f—–g kill you. Immediately after hearing Dan say this to Christopher, [the witness] heard two loud banging noises.”
Another witness stated that they saw: “Dan knock Christopher to the ground, at which time Christopher’s head hit a small table. Dan proceeded to punch Christopher throughout his head and body.”
Tapp spent 20 years in prison for a rape and murder he did not commit.
Rodimer competed on the fourth season of the WWE reality show which also featured Mike Mizanin who would go on to become The Miz, Nick Mitchell who would become Mitch of the Spirit Squad and the eventual winner Daniel Puder.
Rodimer was a former arena league football player and was released by the WWE after being employed as a developmental talent for a year.
He went on to run for the Nevada State Senate, Nevada’s 3rd congressional district and Texas’s 6th congressional district special election. He never won any of those positions.
In the past, Rodimer has been arrested three times for assault but has never been convicted.
