Daughter says $20,000 missing from Binion's home after death

The daughter of Ted Binion testified Wednesday that a large amount of cash was missing from the gambling figure's home when she toured it the day after his death.

Bonnie Binion, 19, said she couldn't find $20,000 that was supposed to have been hidden in several different places in the home.

Her testimony during a preliminary hearing for six people linked to the Binion case bolstered the prosecution's theory that Binion's live-in girlfriend, Sandra Murphy, and her reported lover, Rick Tabish, conspired to kill Binion to take his money.

Ms. Binion said she couldn't find any valuables at all when she toured her father's home on Sept. 18. She testified her father had a habit of keeping cash in the home.

Prosecutors believe Binion was killed Sept. 17 either by suffocation or was forced to ingest a lethal amount of heroin and the prescription drug Xanax. Defense attorneys are trying to portray Binion as a sick drug addict who overdosed.

Late Wednesday, prosecutors showed a videotape of a tour Ms. Murphy gave inside Binion's home the day after his death. She wanted to videotape the contents of the home in anticipation of a bitter court battle with his estate.

Ms. Murphy is seen taking what appears to be a wine glass from the kitchen. Investigators believe the glass may have played a role in Binion's murder.

At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, which is now in its second week, Justice of the Peace Jennifer Togliatti will decide if the case should go to trial.

Tabish, David Mattsen and Michael Milot were arrested two days after Binion's death while digging up his silver fortune in Pahrump. They have been charged, along with Ms. Murphy, with the attempted theft of about $7 million in silver.

Mattsen and Milot are free on bond.

Ms. Murphy, Tabish, Steven Wadkins and John Joseph are charged with kidnapping, assault and extortion in the kidnapping of Leo Casey. Authorities contend Tabish was trying to take control of a sandpit owned by Casey.

Wadkins and Joseph are free on bond on those charges.

Ms. Murphy is free on $300,000 cash bond while Tabish is being held without bond.

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