Authorities say Binion was victim of homicide, not drug overdose

Tuesday, March 16, 1999 | 8:41 a.m.

The gambling family scion and former casino executive died on Sept. 17 from a heroin and Xanax overdose administered by someone else, and it was not an accident, the coroner's office and a prosecutor said Monday.

Among other things, authorities said, Binion was known as a heroin smoker but the dose that killed him had been swallowed.

However, investigators cannot prove a particular person was responsible and the case remains open, said David Roger, chief deputy district attorney for Clark County.

"Now that the coroner has determined it is homicide, we will be stepping up our efforts to serve justice in a timely manner," Roger said.

Binion's body was found on the floor of his Las Vegas home next to an empty bottle of Xanax. Drug tests found that Binion had lethal levels of both the prescription sedative and heroin in his system.

Friends had labeled the death mysterious, contending he had kicked a longtime drug habit several years ago.

His live-in girlfriend, Sandra Murphy, 26, and Richard Tabish, 33, a Missoula, Mont. contractor, came under scrutiny in the case. Tabish's Montana home was searched by investigators last month.

Tabish and two other men, Michael David Milot and David Lee Mattsen, were arrested in Pahrump, Nev. two days after Binion's death. They allegedly dug up $4 million in silver bars and coins Binion had buried in an underground vault.

Tabish had built the vault for Binion on land in the middle of the town, 50 miles west of Las Vegas.

The three men are free on bail in the theft of the silver.

Defense lawyers contend authorities are fishing for suspects in the sensational case.

"They have nothing of real substance," said David Chesnoff, Murphy's attorney.