Mourners grapple with questions in bookie’s death

Bob Shemeligian

Thursday, Sept. 19, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

They cried, consoled each other and shared anecdotes about bookmaker Bruce Weinstein, a local murder victim who was described as "the kind of guy you loved to hate and hated to love."

Among the nearly 100 mourners at Weinstein's funeral Wednesday at Bunker's Mortuary were family members and close friends who all remembered Weinstein as a man who lived life to the fullest.

"My brother was both my partner and my best friend," said Steven Weinstein of Simi Valley, Calif. "Sometimes we fought, and as he tried to teach me about business, I tried to teach him about life. I'll miss the screamin' and the schemin,' but most of all I'll miss my brother, Bruce. I will never forget him."

His sister, Robin Loehr of Moorpark, Calif., said, "I feel Bruce left this world with no guilt. He did exactly as he wanted to do. When you think of Bruce, please rejoice, and laugh at all the crazy, insane things he did."

A mourner in the back of the funeral home dried a tear and forced a smile when he heard those words.

After the service, the mourner, who identified himself as "David" said he used to take boating trips to Lake Tahoe with Weinstein.

"We used to rent a boat, and they would always tell us to stay close to shore, and Bruce would head right out to the middle of the lake where the water was the choppiest," Dave said. "I guess he liked the risk."

Risk was something Weinstein handled well in his business life. He was, reportedly, an extremely successful bookmaker.

But, privately, friends question whether Weinstein did not recognize a much greater risk in his personal life.

Weinstein's girlfriend, Amy DeChant, is a suspect in the bookmaker's murder.

DeChant, 48, who was living with the 46-year-old Weinstein when he disappeared July 5 from his southwest Las Vegas home, was arrested three weeks later in Bel Air, Md., after police found more than $100,000 in cash, false birth certificates and wigs in her car.

She was charged with possession of proceeds from a dangerous, controlled substance.

After spending nearly two months in the Harford County (Md.) Detention Facility, DeChant was released on Friday after Michael Gerber, her brother, posted $5,000 cash bail. The bail amount had been reduced from $2 million, according to court records.

DeChant, who reportedly is in Las Vegas, could not be reached Wednesday.

"We have not spoken to the media, nor are we going to speak to them," said Dan Albregts, DeChant's attorney, who added, "She has not been charged, but because there is an ongoing investigation, it would be improper to comment."

About the investigation, Metro Police Sgt. Ken Hefner said, "It's a tough case. There are no apparent witnesses at this point, and what we're trying to accomplish is to locate Bobby Jones."

Police have issued a material witness arrest warrant for Jones, 57, DeChant's business partner, who vanished July 12, five days after homicide detectives began investigating Weinstein's disappearance.

"Bobby seemed as normal as pie when I last spoke with him over the telephone," said a family friend who has worked as a casino supervisor.

"The last time I spoke to him was at 9 a.m. the morning of July 12, and I think the police spoke to him at 9:45, and by noon he was gone," the friend said. "He disappeared. He left without clothing, money, even a toothbrush."

Weinstein's family has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his whereabouts.

Weinstein's remains, which were discovered Aug. 11 in a makeshift grave off State Route 168 about 60 miles north of Las Vegas, were positively identified last week, and the case was listed as a homicide.

Because the body was badly decomposed, it took investigators a lot of time and effort to make a positive identification.

Following the services for Weinstein Wednesday, his mother, Sylvia White, said, "I feel better now that the services are over. Now I feel I can put my thoughts in a positive direction."

And that direction, she said, points to court.

"The pursuit of justice definitely is on my mind," said White, who makes no secret of the fact that she believes DeChant killed her son.

"She's out of jail and in Las Vegas," White said. "I just hope I don't run into her."