Columnist Kate Maddox: Murphy moves to Regency Towers

Kate Maddox

Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, only in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach her at kmaddox@vegas.com.

With the trial just weeks away, Ted Binion murder suspect Sandy Murphy is hoping a new address will help her keep her distance from the press and the public eye.

Earlier this week Murphy moved into an apartment at the Regency Towers, an upscale high-rise on the grounds of the Las Vegas Country Club.

Murphy, who along with codefendant Rick Tabish is accused of killing Binion in September of 1998, had been living in an apartment in Henderson. But having become something of a local celebrity, she's said to now be seeking a more private existence. And what better place for a lady with well-known expensive tastes than one of the most exclusive addresses in town?

The apartments aren't cheap digs, either. Rental for the hard-to-get spaces is often a few thousand a month, and most of the pads are only obtained through word of mouth. Murphy must have had some connections to help her get into the building -- which has private in-house security in addition to the guard-gated entrance onto country club property.

Whether or not this new living situation will make life easier for Murphy, who is under house arrest, has yet to be seen, but at least now she'll be closer to the courthouse.

Best-selling author James Ellroy was at Mandalay Bay on Saturday night to cover the battle between boxers Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera at the Events Center. Ellroy, the author of "L.A. Confidential," was working on the story for GQ magazine.

Two dancers with Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" were reportedly involved in a drug-related incident and are now not only out of the show, but also out of the country.

Representatives for the production would only confirm that the dancers, reportedly two of the show's female members, are "no longer with the company and have been sent back to Scotland." But the rest of the facts have yet to be sorted out. "Lord of the Dance," which is at New York-New York, has 40 dancers in the troupe.

Family Court Judge Dianne Steel, who officiated at the nuptials between the multimillionaire and his bride on Fox last Tuesday, said that she would consider making a repeat appearance if the network asks her to perform at the second round of "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire," which insiders report is scheduled to be taped here in May.

Judge Steel, who was asked to marry the couple only two weeks before the main event, admitted that she knew very little about the groom and almost nothing about the bride -- she learned what her name was about one minute before the ceremony.

After Rick Rockwell chose his bride, the two were quickly ushered back stage to sign the marriage certificate, which Judge Steel swears was the real deal. A county clerk was present back stage as well. All of the potential brides reportedly signed a detailed pre-nup before the show was taped -- just in case.

And, in the event that Rockwell changed his mind, passed out cold or just plain came out of his hormone-induced fog -- which, in fairness, would happen to any guy who had 50 women in heavy competition for his affection -- and decided not to go through with the wedding, there was a runner-up multimillionaire all set to fill in at a moment's notice. This guy was waiting back stage -- an understudy, if you will. Get a grip, people. Or should I say, get a grip, understudy man.

Judge Steel performs only three or four weddings a year, but she says "whenever the opportunity arises for me to perform a legitimate union of two people who are committed to giving marriage a shot, I won't say no." The judge also admitted that had she been suspicious about the authenticity of the marriage or concerned that the parties involved weren't willing participants, she would have "backed out in a heartbeat."