Montana man picked up as possible witness in Nevada murder case

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000 | 8:10 a.m.

Las Vegal authorities believe Jason Lee Frazer may have valuable information about the murder case pending against Rick Tabish, a Missoula contractor awaiting trial next month for allegedly helping murder the casino owner nearly 18 months ago.

A Las Vegas judge set Frazer's bail at $50,000, but District Judge Doug Harkin allowed no bail, saying he would rather Frazer appear before that judge before bond is set. Frazer was identified as the operator of a trucking company.

Tabish and Sandy Murphy are both charged in Binion's death on Sept. 17, 1998. Binion, who once owned the Horseshoe Club, had ingested a lethal dose of heroin and the prescription drug Xanax. A prosecution expert also has said that Binion was smothered after being forced to ingest the drugs.

Although Binion's death was first viewed as accidental, it was later classified a homicide. Suspicion immediately fell on Murphy, Binion's live-in girlfriend, and Tabish, a business acquaintance of Binion's who prosecutors say later became Murphy's lover.

Frazer's involvement in the case stems from some notes his wife found on motel stationery located in his briefcase. Those notes, found after Frazer traveled to Las Vegas, suggest an effort to create an alibi for Tabish, prosecutors allege.

"It is readily apparent ... that these notes are notes outlining a false alibi for Richard Tabish," Las Vegas Metro Police Detective James Buczek wrote in an affidavit in support of Frazer's arrest. "Also, the notes reflect that the alibi witnesses were to be paid for their testimony."