Model best friend of Dan Rodimer's stepdaughter cooperates with Las Vegas detectives in probe into Christopher Tapp's murder as affidavit reveals WWE wrestler and wife agonized over how to keep the models quiet

A young woman who allegedly saw wrestler-turned-GOP politician Dan Rodimer pummel a partygoer to death in a Las Vegas hotel may be the key witness in the prosecution's murder case.

The 22-year-old witness, Dani Lyons, is the best friend of Rodimer's stepdaughter Bella Duffy, a 21-year-old model who was allegedly given cocaine by the victim at the party, provoking the attack.

Lyons is cooperating with detectives, sharing her detailed account of the confrontation at a Halloween party in a private suite at Resorts World Las Vegas, last October 29.

Rodimer, 45, who ran for US Congress with the blessing of Donald Trump, is accused of murdering Christopher Tapp at the party, which, according to a police affidavit was hosted by a Formula One racing driver.

That driver is identified as 'John' in the police papers. All last names of witnesses have been redacted. 

Tapp, 47, was only released from prison in 2019 after serving 20 years for a murder he did not commit.

WWE star turned politician Dan Rodimer (pictured left in his mugshot) is accused of pummeling Christopher Tapp (right) to death at a Las Vegas hotel last October. Tapp was a recently exonerated man who had served 20 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of killing his friend in 1996

Dani Lyons, 22, is cooperating with detectives after witnessing the violent altercation that led to victim Christopher Tapp's death in October

Rodimer, is pictured with his wife Sarah, children, and stepdaughter Bella, 21 - who is best friends with the witness 

According to an affidavit supporting Rodimer's arrest, he and his wife 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.

'I'm 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 hasn't talked to her about it yet.'

'Yep, well at least just to talk to her, like I know nothing, I didn't see anything,' Rodimer tells his wife.

Sarah criticized Dani as 'the dumbest girl that ever lived on earth.'

Rodimer, dressed for the Halloween party as Ken from the Barbie movie, allegedly turned into 'angry Ken,' ripping off his fur coat and charging shirtless at Tapp after discovering he was doing cocaine with Bella.

Tapp, who lived in Idaho, died a week later in the hospital. His death was ruled a homicide in December, as the medical examiner determined he died of blunt force trauma to his head.

Rodimer, who lives in live in an upscale, gated community on the outskirts Vegas, surrendered last week on a charge of open murder. 

He promptly posted $200,000 bail and is due back in court April 10.

While Rodimer, his wife and stepdaughter have maintained their silence, DailyMail.com can reveal that Lyons has cooperated with cops.

Lyons (left) was at the Resorts World hotel room with Bella Duffy, 21, (right) Rodimer's stepdaughter 

According to an affidavit supporting Rodimer's arrest, he and his wife Sarah were caught on a police wiretap agonizing over how to keep Bella and Dani silent

The incident unfolded in a hotel room in Resorts World Las Vegas on October 29, 2023 after an alleged bust-up with the former wrestler-turned GOP candidate. Tapp later died in hospital 

'Of course she's talking to authorities, as she should,' her father Daniel Lyons exclusively told DailyMail.com Friday.

'I know the story, that Dani and her boyfriend were at a party that Bella was at, that her dad knocked the guy out, and his head hit a table and he died.

'I don't think it was an attempted murder. I think it was an accident. But regardless, it needs to be dealt with properly.'

Witnesses reported hearing Rodimer shout at Tapp, followed by banging sounds. But Dani saw the attack unfold, court papers show.

She told detectives she had been doing cocaine with Bella and another person in the master bathroom, the so-called 'fun room' where lines of coke were already set up on the counter along with a $100 bill to ingest them. 

Dani said Tapp then joined them. 

She told police that Bella's 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.

'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.'

A warrant obtained by DailyMail.com shows Dani saw the fatal attack unfold after Tapp allegedly offered Bella cocaine 

The document names another potential witness identified only as Ryan, who told police he had heard Rodimer tell Tapp, 'If you ever talk to my daughter again, I'll f**king kill you!' 

'Dani saw Dan knock Christopher to the ground, at which time Christopher's 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.

Sarah, who left the party after her husband, went off on him hours later via text, accusing him of murder and vowing never to speak with him again, records show.

She also discussed terms for a divorce, demanding child and spousal support, and seemingly alluding to past domestic violence.

'I'm going to do extensive discovery, murderous behavior and all of the horrible photos of the bruise marks that you put on me,' she wrote during the rant.

'Ok well I'm sorry you feel this way,' Rodimer finally replies. 'I will always have love in my heart for you. I'm sorry it did not work out.'

But Sarah wasn't done.

'You know none of this matters because as soon as I talk to the cops you'll be in prison,' she texts.

'I watched you nearly murder somebody and I had to take your f**king hands off from his neck as he laid there and you ran away,' she continues. 

'And I spent the next two hours trying to take care of him.

Detectives also uncovered messages between Rodimer and Sarah that showed his wife  accusing him of murder and vowing never to speak with him again, hours after the incident. She also discussed terms for a divorce, demanding child and spousal support, and seemingly alluding to past domestic violence

Rodimer, a married father-of-six, pictured with his wife Sarah. Investigators 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' 

'Nobody should have to watch their husband murder somebody.

'I watched you murder somebody like, let that sink in you psychopath,' she continued.

Oddly, Rodimer responds by texting, 'I'm not sure what you're talking about but we can talk at a later date. Please tell the girls I love them. I have to go back to work tonight. Talk soon.'

The exchange ends with Sarah texting that she will 'never talk to you again.'

But the acrimony apparently didn't last long.

Speaking exclusively with DailyMail.com, Sarah's father, Robert Sarbacher, said that he knows of no actual break in communication and said the couple are still very much together.

'I communicate with them all the time,' the 70-year-old said in an interview at his Vegas home. 

'They're not in the process of getting a divorce or separating that I'm aware of now at all.'

Meanwhile, he defended the actions of his son-in-law in 'protecting' his daughter at the party.

'I would do the same thing if I saw somebody giving cocaine to my grandkid,' he said.

In 2020, when Rodimer ran for Congress in Nevada's third congressional district, the Associated Press reported that, two years earlier, his wife called 911 twice alleging domestic violence and that Rodimer had stolen guns and jewelry belonging to her.

'However, he was never arrested, the report added.

'I think there was an argument, maybe a year or so ago,' Sarbacher recalled when asked whether they'd had any serious incidents.

'Whatever they had, like many people, a rough patch, they worked it out and moved on. They're human beings.'

He said people are quick to judge Rodimer because of his tough guy persona.

'He was a wrestler, so that puts an image in people's mind, but that's all fake,' Sarbacher said. 

'I've never seen unjustifiable anger, none of that kind of stuff.'

Speaking of the alleged murder, he added: 'It's not in his character to go off on somebody and beat him like that. 

'That's a good man. I'm glad my daughter married him.'

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Sarah's father, Robert Sarbacher (pictured) said people are quick to judge Rodimer because of his tough guy persona and defended the actions of his son-in-law in 'protecting' his daughter at the party

Sarbacher also said he knows of no actual break in communication and that the couple (pictured with Kevin McCarthy in a social media photo) are still very much together

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 stepfather's campaign) should not be given cocaine

Rodimer's lawyers released a statement saying he plans on 'vigorously contesting' the allegations.

According to Sarbacher, Bella is currently attending nursing school and earning high grades, while also modeling. He noted she's done runway modeling, including in Milan.

Bella is listed with Skyline Talent as a fashion & lifestyle influencer, and has posted glamorous photos of herself in Vegas, New York and Los Angeles. 

Her Instagram page has more than 23,000 followers.

Bella and Dani have known each other since middle school, according to court papers.

Dani has done modeling herself. At age 13, she was named Miss Nevada for her age group, her father said. 

She has filled her own Instagram page with racy photos of herself. 

One shows her wearing a skimpy bikini on a Vegas rooftop pool, with a caption teasing: 'This was my favorite plaid shirt, until it shrunk in the wash.'

In another, she's wearing nothing but a bra and panties, sprawled out in a sports car with the tag, 'ever since this new outfit, I don't get tickets anymore.'

The alleged fatal assault unfolded the night of October 29-30 in a luxury suite, during an event hosted by organizers who bring 'Instagram models' to parties for wealthy clients. The host this night was believed to be an F1 driver.

Christopher Tapp, pictured right with his public defender John Thomas during Tapp's post-conviction relief hearing at the Bonneville Courthouse in Idaho Falls on March 22, 2017

Rodimer became a wrestler after winning the 2004 WWE's reality 'Tough Enough' contest

After the alleged fight, partygoers found Tapp lying with his eyes open on a bed but not speaking. 

They called 911 and noted that his face was swollen and that he had a large mark on the left side of his neck.

The autopsy reportedly found he had cocaine in his system and died after suffering multiple brain bleeds.

Originally from Rockaway, New Jersey, Rodimer became a wrestler after winning the 2004 WWE's Tough Enough contest, eventually going on to wrestle on its RAW brand.

In 2020, he challenged Democratic Rep. Susie Lee for her District 3 seat in Nevada and lost by 13,000 votes.

He later moved to Texas to run as a Republican in a District 6 special election with the slogan, 'Vote Big Dan', where he was thrashed once again gaining just over 2,000 votes in a 'jungle' primary.

In 2020, he received Trump's full endorsement, with the then-president tweeting: 'A former professional wrestler, he will fight for Lower Taxes, Better Education and More Jobs, and he will always support our Brave Law Enforcement. Dan has my Complete and Total Endorsement!'

Rodimer's bio on Instagram states he is a law school graduate, and his wrestling fan page indicates he attended the University of South Florida, where he played football. 

In 2020, Rodimer challenged Democratic Rep. Susie Lee for her District 3 seat in Nevada and lost by 13,000 votes

Rodimer, a former WWE wrestler and has unsuccessfully run for Congress twice, in both Nevada and later in Texas. He is pictured with former president Donald Trump 

He also had a semi-pro football career for the Tampa Bay Barracudas, and in the Arena Football League, and worked as a personal trainer.

Tapp had served time for the wrongful conviction of the rape and murder of his friend 18-year-old Angie Dodge in Idaho.

He was charged in February 1997, roughly eight months after Dodge's nearly decapitated body was discovered at her Idaho Falls apartment.

Tapp initially told investigators he had nothing to do with the crime, but after multiple interviews and a polygraph test, the then 20-year-old confessed to being involved and accused two others.

One of his friends was also charged, but this was later dismissed. Tapp was found guilty in 1998 and sentenced to 40 years.

However, he maintained he had only told police what they wanted to hear and his case was eventually taken up by the Idaho Innocence Project.

In 2017, Tapp's lawyer successfully argued his client had been coerced and the prosecutor's office agreed to vacate the conviction to time served. In 2019, he was fully exonerated after DNA evidence linked Dodge's neighbor Brian Dripps to the scene and he was sentenced to 20 years in jail.

Since leaving prison, Tapp had got married, bought a home and found work at a factory.

He was also pressuring officials to sign legislation guaranteeing compensation for the wrongfully convicted.