A major Republican donor and race car driver has been accused of telling Las Vegas partygoers not to call security or for medical help after an ex-wrestler allegedly pummeled an accused murderer to death last year.
Vera Tapp, the mother of the victim, Christopher Tapp filed a civil suit on Thursday against John Odom, his company Odom Racing, Resorts World Las Vegas and Las Vegas Nights VIP, claiming he convinced others not to act when Dan Rodimer started beating on her son on October 29, 2023, according to KLAS.
Defendant John Odom was in the master bedroom when the attack occurred, and during the attack, two loud banging noises were heard by persons who attended the party, the suit says.
After the attack occurred, defendant John Odom and Daniel Rodimer exited the bedroom and defendant John Odom loudly said not to call security.
None of the defendants in the lawsuit then called for medical attention, despite knowing that Tapp - who spent two decades behind bars for a murder he did not commit - was severely injured, it claims.
After laying concussed in the master bedroom for a significant time, Resorts Worlds security was contacted.
Odom, who made his money as a construction executive in Idaho and was hosting the party, allegedly told security that Tapp, 47, slipped and fell, and medical personnel arrived about half an hour later, the suit says.
It goes on to claim that the defendants did not provide security for the raucous Halloween party and failed to provide Tapp with aid in a timely manner.
John Odom, a major Republican donor and race car driver, has been accused of telling Las Vegas partygoers not to call security or for medical help after an ex-wrestler allegedly beat an accused murderer to death last year
Dan Rodimer (left) is accused of beating 47-year-old Christopher Tapp (right) to death at a Halloween party on October 29, 2023
Tapp, who was one of Odoms racing companys major backers, was left with a life-threatening brain bleed and a severely swollen neck and was drifting in and out of consciousness when he was ultimately taken to the hospital.
He died five days later.
Police said at the time they initially suspected Tapp died of an apparent overdose and fall, according to court documents obtained by KLAS.
But after interviewing witnesses at the party, police claimed ex-wrestler and former Nevada Republican congressional candidate Rodimer attacked Tapp after he offered Rodimers model stepdaughter, Bella Duffy, cocaine.
They allege that Rodimer, who was dressed as Ken from the Barbie movie, ripped off his fur coat and charged at him shirtless, punching him and pushing him. Tapp then allegedly hit his head on a table as he fell.
Duffys friend, Dani Lyons, later told police she had been doing cocaine with Bella and another person in the master bathroom, when Tapp joined them.
She claimed Bellas dad came in soon after and got upset with Christopher, according to the court papers.
One party organizer said Bella rules had been discussed before the party got fully underway. One of them was that Bella should not be given cocaine.
Dani Lyons, a friend of Rodimers model stepdaughter, Bella Duffy, claimed the fight started when Rodimer accused Tapp of giving them cocaine
Police allege Rodimer, a former wrestler, ripped off his fur coat and charged at Tapp shirtless, punching him and pushing him
Dan accused Chris of giving cocaine to Bella and said, If you give my daughter any of that s**t, I will f***ing kill you, Dani old cops.
A short time later, Dani saw Dan run into the bedroom, she assumed to fight Christopher, the papers state. Dani and Bella followed behind Dan.
Dani saw Dan knock Christopher to the ground, at which time Christophers head hit a small table, the warrant continues.
Dan proceeded to punch Christopher throughout his head and body. Dani described Dan as the instigator and described that Christopher was not fighting back.
Dani left the room because she did not want to continue to witness what Dan was doing to Christopher because it was "disgusting".
Later, as Dani was in the lobby leaving Resorts World, she observed Christopher being wheeled out on a gurney by paramedics, the papers state.
Still, the civil lawsuit claims nobody who witnessed the fight called security.
It was only when other partygoers found Tapp lying with his eyes open on a bed but unable to speak that they called 911.
They reported that he had a large mark on the left side of his neck.
By December 2023, the Clark County coroners office determined Tapp died of blunt force trauma to his head, with a scan showing he suffered several brain bleeds
It ruled his death a homicide.
According to court documents, one party organizer said Bella rules had been discussed before the party got fully underway and one of them was that Bella (pictured supporting her stepfathers campaign) should not be given cocaine
Lyons would later claim to a grand jury that Rodimers wife, Sarah, told her the next day not to say anything if law enforcement asked.
She said if anyone asks you about it, law enforcement wise to say you didnt see anything, Lyons said, according to JLAS.
She said you dont want to get involved in this.
Rodimer, who adamantly denies murder, was finally charged in early March, after police got a warrant to search phones belonging to him, his wife, his stepdaughter and Odom.
They found a series of angry messages Sarah wrote to Rodimer within four hours of the attack.
One of them said: I watched you nearly murder somebody and I had to take your f***ing hands off from his neck as he laid there and you ran away.
Nobody should have to watch their husband murder somebody, she added.
Another message said: I watched you murder somebody like let that sink in you psychopath.
Rodimer, a married father-of-six, pictured with his wife Sarah. Investigators said they found chilling text messages after the alleged murder, where she reportedly told him: I watched you murder somebody like let that sink in you psychopath
A police affidavit supporting the arrest also claimed Rodimer and Sarah were caught on a police wiretap agonizing over how to keep Bella and Dani silent.
Bella told the police she was there with her friends, Sarah tells her husband during a January 2 phone conversation.
Im like why did you have to say anything? Sarah then calls her own daughter so f***king dumb.
Ugh, Rodimer replies.
Rodimer also asks whether Bella has spoken with Dani about the case, and Sarah replies: She said she hasnt talked to her about it yet.
Yep, well at least just to talk to her, like I know nothing, I didnt see anything, Rodimer tells his wife.
Sarah allegedly went on to criticize Dani as the dumbest girl that ever lived on earth.
Rodimer, a former Nevada Republican congressional candidate, has denied the claims
Rodimers attorneys have since sought to exclude the damning texts from the evidence as they fight the murder charge.
They also argued that some of the grand jury testimony was impermissible, but a judge denied their claims.
Rodimer now remains out of custody on a $200,000 bond as he awaits his jury trial in February.
Odom, Sarah and other partygoers have not been charged criminally in Tapps death.