Columnist Jeff German: Mystery of Binion's death only deepens

It was supposed to be a week that would solve the mystery behind the death of Ted Binion.

Instead, we were left with more questions than answers.

A toxicology report found that Binion, who had struggled with drug problems the last decade of his life, had lethal levels of both heroin and the prescription sedative Xanax in his body at the time of his Sept. 17 death.

The results of the long-awaited drug tests left Clark County Coroner Ron Flud with no choice but to classify the manner in which Binion died as "undetermined."

Flud said he had no evidence to support the unscientific police theory that Binion had died of an accidental overdose or had committed suicide.

That prompted more speculation that Binion, a colorful gaming figure who liked to hang out with wise guys, may have been murdered.

"We're keeping an open mind because of all of the allegations that are flying out there," Flud told me. "I'd say there are still some questions that need to be answered."

That caused Metro homicide detectives to start viewing Binion's demise with more suspicion.

As if detectives needed more prodding, Binion's lawyers, Richard Wright and Harry Claiborne, called upon police to conduct a full-scale murder investigation.

Responded Homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen: "We'll talk to as many people as we can to try to ascertain the truth."

His words were reassuring to Binion's sister, Horseshoe Club owner Becky Behnen, who was the first to suggest foul play may have been involved in her brother's death. Behnen acknowledged her brother had a heroin habit, but she insisted he didn't like to take pills. Binion's housekeeper said he hated even to take aspirin.

But by the end of the week, detectives had made little headway approaching the two people who may have the most to tell about Binion's last hours alive.

On Friday, detectives still were trying to arrange interviews with Binion's live-in girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, who reported his death to police on Sept. 17, and Montana contractor Rick Tabish, one of three men charged in Pahrump with trying to steal a fortune in buried silver from Binion less than 36 hours after his death.

Nye County sheriff's deputies investigating the silver theft uncovered evidence that suggests a possible romantic relationship between Murphy and Tabish. Both were at Binion's home the day before he died and both were observed together at a posh Beverly Hills hotel the weekend before his death.

Murphy is a former topless dancer who by most accounts had a stormy relationship with Binion the past three years. She stands to inherit part of Binion's multimillion-dollar estate.

Tabish is a two-time convicted felon who built the underground vault in Pahrump where Binion had buried as much as $4 million in silver coins and bars. Tabish once pleaded guilty to stealing a valuable painting from his own lawyer in Missoula, Mont.

As questions continued to mount all week about the suspicious nature of Binion's death, homicide detectives remained perplexed.

Binion's addiction to heroin has been well-documented over the years. Friends said he returned to using the street drug in May after Nevada gaming regulators revoked his license as a part owner of the Horseshoe Club because of organized crime ties.

Furthermore, police found no evidence of foul play at the scene of his death, and an autopsy did not reveal any trauma on his body consistent with foul play.

Word of Binion's demise, meanwhile, began attracting attention from the media as far away as London. The well-read Los Angeles Times and Washington Post also both picked up on the story, and the tabloid television news shows began taking an interest.

In Las Vegas, we learned that Binion's estate had decided to look into his death, as well.

Private investigator Tom Dillard, a former homicide detective, was hired to sort things out and assist police in their probe.

As the week came to a close, the most telling development in the investigation may have come from homicide detectives.

Petersen confirmed that detectives had met with the coroner in an attempt to determine how Binion could have taken lethal levels of both heroin and Xanax by himself.

It was a giant step toward solving the mystery of his death.

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