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Friday, September 18, 1998
Ted Binion, troubled gambling figure, dies
After a life of tumult, a former gaming executive's body is found next to an empty prescription bottle.
By Glenn Puit
Review-Journal
Former gaming executive Lonnie "Ted" Binion, a man tormented for years by drug use and ties to underworld crime figures, was found dead in his Las Vegas home Thursday afternoon. Police suspect a drug overdose.
Las Vegas police Sgt. Jim Young said Binion, 55, was discovered on a sleeping bag on the den floor of his expansive estate in the 2800 block of Palomino Lane, near Rancho Drive and Charleston Boulevard.
"Preliminary results indicate he may have made an ingestion error in regards to medication," Young said.
Next to the body was an empty bottle of prescribed medication that Young said was for stress-related conditions. He wouldn't disclose the type of medication, the medical conditions Binion suffered from or how many pills Binion was believed to have ingested.
"At first glance it appears accidental and not an intentional act," Young said. "While it's suspicious, it's not suspicious to the point where we are talking about criminal activity."
Young said no suicide note was found in the home. Interviews with family, friends and Binion's girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, left police concluding Binion probably didn't plan to kill himself, Young said.
"In these types of situations, when someone intends to end their life, you usually have an individual who doesn't make any future plans," Young said. "You might have mood swings, going from happy to sad ... and in this case so far it appears that none of that occurred."
There were no signs of a break-in, a struggle or trauma to the body, which was discovered by Murphy at 4:05 p.m. Paramedics who responded to a 911 call made by Murphy were not able to revive Binion.
Binion lived alone and no one else was in the home at the time of his death, Young said. An autopsy was expected to be conducted today but toxicology tests to determine what killed Binion could take weeks.
"It basically looks like he fell asleep (while watching television) and died in that position," Young said.
While investigators were following standard procedures required by a death investigation, given Binion's background, they were being cautious in their assessment of the facts of the case, Young said. He said police are not ruling out anything until they study autopsy results.
Binion lived a controversial yet colorful life that many said followed in the footsteps of his father, the late Lester "Benny" Binion. His father, founder of the family's downtown gaming property Binion's Horseshoe, had a reputation as a hard partyer and big-time poker player.
Ted Binion was an associate of mobster Herbert "Fat Herbie" Blitzstein, who was found shot to death in his Las Vegas home Jan. 7, 1997, the victim of what authorities claim was an organized-crime hit.
Days after that slaying, Las Vegas police received a tip that Binion also might become a target of violence. Months later someone fired several shots at Binion's home and vehicle. Binion also was an acquaintance of Peter "P.J." Ribaste, who officials claim has ties to organized crime interests in Kansas City, Mo.
Binion, earlier in his life, was an admitted heroin addict. His oldest sister, Barbara, died of a drug overdose in 1983.
Las Vegas attorney Oscar Goodman, well-known for his role in defending several organized crime figures, made a brief appearance at Binion's home shortly after learning of his friend's death.
"He was one of the best guys I've ever met," Goodman said before scurrying into his car and fleeing a flock of news crews.
Ownership of the Horseshoe recently was turned over to Binion's sister, Becky Behnan, following a lengthy and heated legal dispute that severed many of the Binion family ties. She issued a statement on the death late Thursday.
"My brother's untimely death is just so sad and tragic," she said. "Through all of his trials and tribulations, Ted was a caring man even though as brother and sister we had our sibling differences, as any family will have.
"But through it all, I loved my brother and I admired his keen intellect, his sense of humor and the many little things that he would do to help a lot of friends without anyone's knowledge," Behnan said. "After I bought the Horseshoe, Ted really looked like he was finally ready to accept some dramatic changes in his life, and so this sudden loss really has an even greater impact on our family."
Ted's brother, Jack, reportedly was out of town Thursday night and could not be contacted for comment.
In what proved to be an ongoing and high-profile saga, Binion's gaming license was suspended indefinitely by the Nevada Gaming Commission in May 1997, primarily because of his drug use and ties to organized crime figures.
When contacted Thursday evening, Nevada Gaming Commission member Augie Gurrola expressed his condolences to Binion's family, but at the same time speculated Binion's lifestyle finally might have caught up with him.
"Somehow, sooner or later, it will wear you down," Gurrola said of Binion's lifestyle. "I think for some reason, whatever it was, he always seemed to be going up the wrong street."
"He had all the money anyone could want, and for some reason it just didn't seem to be enough," Gurrola said.
Family members and friends, including defense attorney Richard Wright, came and went from the well-manicured property in the hours after Binion's body was found.
"I never had any bad dealings with the man -- what a tragedy," said a shaken Rick Tabish, who was a friend of Binion's. "I know he was trying really hard to change his life."
Neighbors in the posh community where Binion lived said that behind Binion's public persona was an outgoing and caring man.
"He was an absolutely outstanding neighbor who was concerned about the people around him," said Jean D'Agostino. "One time he came over and gave me his phone number and told me to call him if I ever needed any help. That was the type of man he was."
Review-Journal writer Dave Berns contributed to this report.
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LONNIE "TED" BINION
Rick Tabish, left, and noted defense attorney Richard Wright discuss the death of their friend, Lonnie "Ted" Binion, in front of Binion's home Thursday afternoon. Police said it appeared Binion died of an accidental drug overdose, although an investigation into the case is continuing.
Photo by Craig L. Moran.
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