Key witness goes into hiding

Wednesday, March 1, 2000 | 5:19 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

An attorney for a central figure in the Ted Binion murder case said Wednesday his client has gone into hiding because he fears for his life.

David Mattsen's attorney, James "Bucky" Buchanan, hadn't heard from Mattsen since Monday and said early Wednesday that Mattsen was missing.

Buchanan said friends found the white pickup truck Mattsen was driving at a local bar Tuesday afternoon.

On Tuesday Buchanan said he believed Mattsen had gone "off the deep end" during negotiations with prosecutors seeking his testimony against Binion's accused killers, Rick Tabish and Sandy Murphy.

But Mattsen, 54, called Buchanan late Wednesday afternoon and told him that he was in hiding and fears for his safety.

Mattsen is expected to stand trial Monday on federal firearms charges.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger, the lead prosecutor in the Binion case, said Wednesday he is still interested in hearing what Mattsen knows about Binion's Sept. 17, 1998, slaying.

"There's significant circumstantial evidence suggesting Mattsen was at Ted Binion's house the day of the murder," Roger said.

But Buchanan said Wednesday "any negotiations or cooperation at this point are completely dead."

Roger said Mattsen had a "window of opportunity" to be at the home during the morning hours, when police believe Binion was killed.

Mattsen's wife, Thressa Mattsen, told a grand jury she saw her husband the morning of Sept. 17, but could not account for his whereabouts the rest of the day.

Phone records show Mattsen called Tabish and the Binion home that day. He also received calls from Tabish.

Prosecutors believe Mattsen has a wealth of information to share about Binion's slaying.

Talks aimed at reaching an agreement faltered after Mattsen tried to meet with Binion's sister, Becky Behnen, at the Horseshoe Club, Buchanan said.

Mattsen also is charged with Tabish and Murphy in the theft of Binion's $6 million silver fortune in Pahrump two days after his death.

Meanwhile, prosecutors have obtained new evidence that may tie a lawyer for Tabish to a reported plot to pay off alibi witnesses in Binion's slaying.

Roger disclosed in court Tuesday that Jason Lee Frazier, a Tabish friend and business associate, has turned over handwritten, jailhouse notes from Tabish outlining the alleged conspiracy.

Frazier, a 28-year-old Montana man who has been granted immunity from prosecution, has told detectives the notes were given to him by Tabish's civil attorney, William Knudson, last summer when the alleged alibi scheme was hatched by Tabish at the Clark County Detention Center.

Roger plans to present the 52 pages of notes in court Thursday, when he attempts to persuade District Judge Joseph Bonaventure to allow him to introduce the evidence of the alibi conspiracy at the March 13 trial of Tabish and Murphy.

Frazier, who is in jail on a $1 million material witness bond, is expected to testify at the hearing.

Knudson denies any involvement in the alibi scheme.