Binion probe seeks out California woman

Tuesday, March 16, 1999 | 11:08 a.m.

Homicide detectives investigating the murder of Ted Binion are seeking the cooperation of a California woman who talked to the gaming executive's girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, the evening of his Sept. 17 death.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the woman, Linda Susan Carroll, as a material witness in the probe.

Carroll, who is reported to be in hiding, spent the night of Sept. 17 with Murphy at the Las Vegas home of another Murphy friend, Janice Tanno, according to District Court documents.

In a recently filed affidavit, Binion's brother Jack Binion, the executor of his $30 million estate, described Carroll as a longtime friend of Murphy's from California.

Detectives and an investigator for Ted Binion's estate have been searching for Carroll for weeks. She is believed to be afraid for her life.

The estate tried to depose her during probate proceedings last month. But District Judge Michael Cherry said her testimony was premature and he refused to allow it.

At a news conference Monday at the Clark County coroner's office, Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger, who is spearheading a grand jury's investigation into Binion's murder, told reporters that witnesses have been "intimidated" in the probe.

Afterward, Roger refused to say whether Carroll was threatened, but he acknowledged an arrest warrant was issued for a material witness.

At the news conference, Coroner Ron Flud disclosed that he now is formally declaring Binion's death a homicide.

Flud had been classifying the manner in which Binion died as "undetermined" while detectives stepped up their probe the past five months.

The discovery of a large amount of heroin in Binion's stomach and the fact that the death scene at his Las Vegas home where his body was found appeared to be staged have contributed to Flud's decision to announce that Binion was murdered.

Flud, Roger and Homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen declined to give out details of the investigation and would not name the targets of the probe. But they are believed to be the 27-year-old Murphy and Rick Tabish, 33, a Montana contractor who reportedly is romantically involved with Murphy.

Tabish and two other men face a preliminary hearing Friday in Pahrump on charges that they dug up and tried to steal a fortune in silver from Binion less than 36 hours after his death.

Murphy lived with Binion at his 2408 Palomino Lane home, and Tabish was reportedly there the day before Binion died.

"I think it's fairly obvious to all of us who was present there and who had a motive and opportunity," Petersen said.

Murphy reported discovering Binion's body on a sleeping bag in the den of the home at 3:47 p.m. Sept. 17. Next to his body was an empty bottle of the prescription sedative Xanax that Binion had obtained the day before.

Police found no signs of foul play at the death scene, but toxicology tests later revealed lethal levels of heroin and Xanax in Binion's body. Binion was a known heroin user who smoked the addictive street drug but was not known to ingest it.

Murphy's lawyer, David Chesnoff, criticized Flud and the police Monday for holding the news conference.

"I've never known the authorities to hold a press conference while they have an ongoing secret grand jury proceeding," Chesnoff said.

"I don't think it's appropriate. The place to comment on this from our perspective is if this case ever winds up in court."

Binion's sister, Horseshoe Club owner Becky Behnen, meanwhile, said news that her brother was murdered was "painful" for her.

"It's very saddening, but it brings some closure to my life," Behnen said.

Behnen, the first to suspect that her brother was murdered, praised District Attorney Stewart Bell, Sheriff Jerry Keller and Petersen for their efforts.

"I just can't commend them enough," Behnen said.

"I always had faith in their ability to follow through and solve this."

Harry Claiborne, a longtime friend and lawyer for Binion, said he was glad police and the coroner now are calling Binion's death a homicide.

"I said from the very beginning that the murder scene was staged and that I believed that Ted was murdered," Claiborne said.

"And I stand by that."

Petersen declined to say why authorities decided to declare Binion's death a homicide on Monday other than it was "advantageous" for them to do it now.