Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998 | 4:38 a.m.
Homicide detectives visited the Las Vegas home of Ted Binion Wednesday looking for more clues to his Sept. 17 death.
"We're taking another look at the house," Homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen said. "They went out to get some first-hand knowledge of the physical layout of the house."
Petersen said the original death scene was handled by general assignment detectives.
Since then, a team of two homicide detectives and a sergeant have taken over the investigation, which has intensified following the release of a toxicology report that found lethal levels of both heroin and the prescription sedative, Xanax, in his body.
Clark County Coroner Ron Flud has classified the manner in which Binion died as "undetermined" because of the drug test results.
"At this point, we're moving forward with the investigation," Petersen said. "We still don't have enough evidence to say it's a homicide. But of course we can't say it's not a homicide, which is our dilemma."
Binion's sister, Horseshoe Club hotel-casino owner Becky Behnen, said Wednesday she was pleased with the decision to step up the probe.
"I have total confidence in Wayne Petersen and his ability to handle my brother's case," Behnen told the SUN.
Behnen, who raised the possibility of foul play during an interview with the SUN the morning after her brother's death, has hired the Rogich Communications Group to help her deal with a crush of national news organizations taking an interest in the case.
Following the investigation are Dateline NBC, CNN, ABC News, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. Unsolved Mysteries, and such tabloid news shows as Hard Copy and Inside Edition also have been looking into the former gaming executive's death.
Among those who showed up at Binion's Palomino Lane home Wednesday during the visit by homicide detectives was criminal defense attorney Oscar Goodman, who's partner, David Chesnoff, is representing Murphy.
Goodman said he was there to protect the interests of Binion's girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, but he was denied access to the home. He declined further comment.
But Goodman reportedly told police they had no authority to search the home without Murphy's permission.
Murphy, who stands to inherit the house, had reported Binion's death to police on Sept. 17. Homicide detectives have been unable to question her since then.
Police at the death scene did not find evidence of foul play, and an autopsy failed to reveal any signs of trauma on Binion's body.
But Behnen, Binion's lawyers Richard Wright and Harry Claiborne and a host of Binion friends and employees all believe his demise was not an accident and that he did not commit suicide.
In interviews with the SUN, several Binion friends and employees have pointed out suspicious occurrences at his home in the days leading to his death.
Another longtime Binion friend and employee, a veteran Horseshoe Club security officer, Wednesday joined the chorus of those who suspect foul play in his death.
"Ted Binion never would have committed suicide," the security officer said. "Common sense tells you the man had too much to live for. He was making a strong effort to get his life back in order."
The security officer described Binion's relationship with Murphy as stormy.
He said he checked into Murphy's background at Binion's request three years ago and found that she liked to hobnob with celebrities in Los Angeles, including retired Los Angeles Lakers superstar Magic Johnson, before she moved to Las Vegas.
The officer said Murphy also palled around with NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman when he came to town.
About 18 months ago, the officer said, Murphy took a Rolls Royce limousine that once belonged to the late Horseshoe Club founder Benny Binion and hit the nightclub scene with Rodman.
Murphy has been unreachable for comment. Chesnoff and Goodman have instructed her to keep silent amid the investigation into Binion's death.
Chesnoff said he didn't know whether Murphy had hung out with the likes of Johnson and Rodman.
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