Judge approves sale of Binion home

Erica Johnson

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002 | 11:21 a.m.

The house of slain gaming figure Ted Binion could be sold within the next 10 days, despite protests from Binion's girlfriend and convicted killer, Sandy Murphy.

District Judge Michael Cherry on Monday granted the sale of the home to local investor Patrick Haddad, who paid $750,000 for the house at 2408 Palomino Lane, near Rancho Drive and Charleston Boulevard. Cherry's ruling gives Murphy 10 days to get a stay from the Nevada Supreme Court.

If the order isn't stayed within 10 days, money from the sale will go into a blocked, interest-bearing account until further order of the court, James Brown, lawyer for the estate, said.

The Nevada Supreme Court is currently considering whether to overturn the murder convictions of Murphy and co-defendant Rick Tabish. If Murphy's appeal is not overturned, the money will go directly to Binon's daughter, Bonnie, Brown said.

"The ruling was fair," Brown said. "Judge Cherry bent over backwards trying to let her have her day in court. And I have no problem with that."

Murphy and Tabish are serving life sentences for Binion's murder. Her attorney, Herb Sachs, was unavailable for comment.

Cherry in September gave the estate permission to sell the home, but the Supreme Court stayed the order at the request of Murphy's lawyers.

Though Monday's hearing was open for other buyers to place bids on the home, no other bids were placed, Brown said. Had additional bids been placed, the house would have been sold to the highest bidder, he said.

Haddad's offer on the house came three weeks ago, after the sale of the home to local real estate agent Mary Bartsas fell through following an inspection, Brown said.

Bartsas had offered $900,000 for the house.

Binion, son of the late Horshoe founder Benny Binion, was found dead in 1998 at the home, which he shared with Murphy.