Police: No evidence ‘Buffalo’ Jim was killed

Rizzolo enemy in long-running feud seen registering at motel alone

Richard Brian

“Buffalo” Jim Barrier was a colorful wrestling promoter and auto mechanic who had a running feud with former Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo. Since the body of the 55-year-old Barrier was found April 6 at a Motel 6 on Boulder Highway, his daughters have pressed authorities to treat his death as the result of foul play.

By Jeff German (contact)

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 | 2 a.m.

'Buffalo' Jim found dead in hotel room (4-07-2008)

Metro Police have gathered evidence about the death of “Buffalo” Jim Barrier that appears to dispel claims by his family and close friends that he died as a result of foul play.

The evidence includes a surveillance tape showing a contented-looking Barrier checking into a Motel 6 on Boulder Highway the night before he died.

“There is nothing to indicate that anything was amiss when he was renting that room,” said Capt. Randy Montandon, who viewed the four-minute surveillance tape. “He was in no distress and appeared to be in good spirits.”

Montandon said no one else appeared on the tape when the 55-year-old Barrier registered about 8:20 p.m. April 5.

But police are trying to determine whether someone later accompanied the colorful Las Vegas auto mechanic and wrestling promoter to his room.

Montandon said a motel clerk told police that Barrier implied there would be another occupant with him in the room.

“There’s a possibility he may have been with a woman,” said one source close to the investigation. “There would be no other known reason from him to be there.”

The source said Barrier, who was not married, was known to meet women on occasion at different motels, including that Motel 6.

A motel maid found his body April 6 lying face up on a bed with his pants around his ankles, sources said. A voice message had been left on his cell phone by an unidentified woman before the discovery of his body, asking if he was all right.

Some of Barrier’s friends have suggested he was drugged and brought to the motel room in his Rolls Royce and the luxury car was taken from the parking lot and cleaned after his death.

But those claims are contradicted by motel witnesses and other evidence, including the surveillance videotape showing Barrier registering under his own power, Montandon said.

The Rolls Royce was parked in a spot that was not visible from the motel room, and witnesses reported that it never left the parking lot, Montandon said.

Police called to the scene of Barrier’s death took photos of the keys to the Rolls Royce, Barrier’s wallet and some cash, all found in the motel room, Montandon said.

“There is nothing that would be indicative of any kind of altercation or struggle in the room,” Montandon said. “It appears to be a natural cause of death.”

Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy said Monday that an examination of the body has turned up no evidence of foul play.

But Murphy is waiting for toxicology and other lab test results before officially determining the cause of death.

That has given Barrier’s family and friends reason to speculate that his death was not natural.

Barrier, whose auto repair shop is next door to the Crazy Horse Too, had a public feud with its former owner, Rick Rizzolo, whom law enforcement authorities have long suspected of having ties to organized crime.

For more than a decade, Barrier had kept in regular contact with FBI agents conducting a racketeering investigation of the topless club that ultimately landed Rizzolo in federal prison on tax evasion charges. Rizzolo was formally released from prison April 4, two days before Barrier’s body was discovered.

Last week, Barrier’s daughters met with FBI agents and Metro Police detectives to voice their concerns about his death. The family also hired a private investigator and a pathologist to conduct an independent autopsy.

Barrier was buried Saturday following a well-attended funeral at Palm Mortuary downtown.

Jeff German is the Sun’s senior investigative reporter.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By dodgerchuck

4/16/08 at 8:07 a.m.

Suggest removal

hey that mst've been 1 heck of a bj.they say that theres some luv that kills u.rip buffalo man.
By mikeg

4/16/08 at 3:43 p.m.

Suggest removal

A little bit of coke can push a weak heart over the edge, happens to older hollywood celebrities every once in a while. At least he died happy, beat's Elvis death on the toilet.
By jmg7070

4/19/08 at 12:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

The man was poisoned. Anybody who thinks that Jim Barrier's death occuring two days after Rick Rizzolo gets out of jail is a coincedence is a gullible moron.

And the police ignored and in fact destoyed any evidence because Rick Rizzolo has had so many cops on the take for so long that the last thing Metro wants to do is arrest Rizzolo. He might start naming names.

The FBI needs to keep closer tabs on Metro. The local police force is corrupt to the core. The FBI needs to actually protect it's witnesses because Metro cannot be trusted.
By aliceibew

5/2/08 at 4:04 a.m.

Suggest removal

i heard on the strip that for sure Rizzolo did it ....
By jekerwin2

6/7/08 at 7:35 p.m.

Suggest removal

I used to wrestling student. While I was training and stuff at Buff's school he had truble with Rick Rizzolo. I beleave that Rick did it and was acting like a stripper did it or it could have been a stripper that was hired by Rick. Buff was a good man he let me and my wife get married in his ring. I miss wrestling and it is bad Buff is gone. Rick and who ever worked with Rick needs to be Locked up. That message on the phone was not named that could have been the girl that worked for Rick. Who know who the Girl was but to be flat out "BUFF WAS KILLED" The Best man that any Wrestling has or had Buff was the best out there. Rick was the one that got the school closed and he is the one that got Buff killed. I know this because I know what happened when I was going to school there.

R.I.P
Buffalo Jim

P.s.

Little Buff and everyone that in Buffs family. Sorry about what happens. We hope you find the killer because my heart says Foul play was in the. The evidence is all in this news page and tere is no missing it. Open your mind nd you heart and you see there was a fou play there