Kelly Ryan and Craig Titus, shown at Mandalay Bay in 2002, are charged in the death of their assistant, Melissa James. Photo by Craig L. Moran.
The murder cases of elite bodybuilders Craig Titus and his wife, Kelly Ryan, likely will reveal a steroid-fueled lifestyle of wife-swapping and group-sex parties, sources say.
Titus and Ryan were described as regulars at local strip clubs, where they trolled for sex partners.
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The Las Vegas couple was arrested Dec. 23 in Massachusetts and charged in connection with the death of their live-in female assistant, Melissa James, 28. Her body was found in Ryan's burned-out, cherry-red Jaguar, abandoned on a remote desert highway.
In the February issue of Playboy, Titus, a former Mr. USA, defends anabolic steroid use and touts its powers as a sexual-performance enhancement.
"I'm talking about a libido like no other, a sense of wellness like no other. Should they be made legal? No. Should they be available by prescription to athletes? Yes."
In the Playboy article about the annual Olympia bodybuilding event, Titus said he served 26 months in prison, starting in 1997. The reason was not given, but Titus, according to a bodybuilder Web site, was implicated in a drug crime in 1995, served time for steroid distribution and was charged with selling Ecstasy.
Titus won the Mr. USA title in 1996, the same year Ryan captured the Fitness America title.
Early in her career, Ryan, 33, trained as a gymnast under the tutelage of Bela Karolyi, according to her biography. Karolyi has coached the U.S. and Romanian Olympic gymnastics teams,
Titus, 40, served as the trainer for Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil for VH1's special "Remaking: Vince Neil" early last year.
Titus and Ryan were regulars at Spearmint Rhino and Sapphire strip clubs, where they would prowl for sex partners, sources said.
"They were into a real weird lifestyle, always bringing chicks and guys back to their home," said a source close to the couple.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Any day now, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul and the Silverton will announce their long-rumored deal. She'll have a theater named after her and choreograph shows. ...
He's Sir Tom Jones now. The longtime Las Vegas headliner from Wales is among a group that will be knighted later this year. ...
Leon Spinks, who shocked the world with his 15-round title decision over Muhammad Ali here in February 1978, is now working as a janitor in Columbus, Neb. ...
Boyd Gaming CFO Ellis Landau will be honored at Temple Beth Sholom's "Man of the Year Gala" on May 21. The temple is marking its 60th birthday this year.
SIGHTINGS
All-Pro pass catcher Randy Moss of the Oakland Raiders, signing the Wall of Fame at OPM (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Monday. ... Danny Masterson and his girlfriend, Laura Prepon, both of "That '70s Show," along with his brother Chris, at Mr. Lucky's, the 24/7 eatery at the Hard Rock Hotel, on Sunday. ... Designer-decorator Nate Berkus, a regular contributor on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," spotted at Celine Dion's "A New Day" (Caesars Palace) and "Zumanity" (New York-New York) over the weekend. ... Rapper and "Law and Order" star Ice-T, in the audience at the Penn & Teller show (Rio) on Monday night. ... Gabriella Versace, the lead in the Rio's "Erocktica" show, being thrown over the shoulder of a frisky male who came out of the audience during the show and proceeded to spin her around -- on two occasions. "He was 5 feet tall, and I'm 5-8. I felt like we were doing a circus act," Versace said.
THE PUNCH LINE
"A lot of flooding going on out in California. Up in San Francisco, everyone was holding onto their inflatable cowboys. The good thing though is that the mudslides are putting out the brush fires." -- David Letterman
