Mandalay Bay club manager, a three-time felon, sought in $95,000 heist
The theft of nearly $95,000 from rumjungle last weekend went undetected until the nightclub's accountant opened the safe Monday and discovered the bank bags inside were stuffed with white paper strips cut the size of cash.
Police have obtained a warrant charging rumjungle manager Thomas Murray with the Sunday morning heist, but detectives believe the three-time felon has fled Nevada.
Investigators theorize that Murray, 48, patiently planned his crime, waiting to pull the inside job in the early morning hours following a night when the dance club and restaurant in Mandalay Bay would have larger than usual revenue.
"Obviously, we haven't spoken with Mr. Murray, but that's our conclusion considering when he did it," Lt. Larry Spinosa said.
Police say that big-money opportunity arose May 3, the night Mandalay Bay hosted the Oscar De La Hoya-Yory Boy Campos bout and a near-sellout crowd of more than 11,000.
"He picked fight night for the embezzlement," prosecutor Ron Bloxham said.
Rumjungle, a hugely popular night spot known for drawing partying celebrities, was filled with big-spending boxing fans after the match, many of whom would be drinking and dancing well into the morning hours.
According to a police report, one of the club's managers, Robert Morgenthal, told police he and Murray went to deposit the night's cash earnings into the safe early Sunday.
"Murray verbally tells Morgenthal he has the money inside his bag, and tells him the amount $94,875," the report states.
Video surveillance shows Murray following Morgenthal into the room and then dropping bags into the drop chute for the safe. Both men then sign a log next to the safe.
Murray finished his shift, and has not been seen since, police said.
On Monday morning, the nightclub's accountant discovered the safe actually held "two bags filled with seven stacks of plain white paper cut into the size of U.S. currency, rubber-banded with one bill of U.S. currency on top, and play money on bottom," the report states.
Club officials notified police, and detectives soon discovered Murray was the only employee who had access to the safe who could not be located for an interview.
When police searched Murray's apartment, on Las Vegas Boulevard about five miles south of the resort, they recovered more evidence implicating Murray.
Detective Nathan Chio wrote in his report that he recovered "a package of play money from the kitchen table identical to those that were found at the crime scene."
On the floor were "pieces of cut plain white paper, and pieces of the play money," Chio wrote.
The detective later wrote that he believed Murray filled the bank bags with the worthless paper at home and carried them into the club in a shoulder bag seen on the surveillance footage and switched them with the real money bags while alone.
It remains unclear whether officials at rumjungle were aware of Murray's criminal history, which includes a conviction in Colorado for robbery, and whether he faced a background check before he was hired and trusted with such sums at rumjungle.
"I'm not at liberty to discuss it," rumjungle General Manager Kelley Jones said in declining comment on several questions.
Police are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Murray, who is white, 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. He wears glasses. He was last seen driving a gray 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche sport utility vehicle with Arizona license plates reading 123 HGZ.
But investigators are warning citizens not to try and take him into custody.
"We believe he is armed and dangerous," Spinosa said.
Anyone with information can call police at 229-3573. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime- Stoppers at 385-5555.
The theft of nearly $95,000 from rumjungle last weekend went undetected until the nightclub's accountant opened the safe Monday and discovered the bank bags inside were stuffed with white paper strips cut the size of cash.
Police have obtained a warrant charging rumjungle manager Thomas Murray with the Sunday morning heist, but detectives believe the three-time felon has fled Nevada.
Investigators theorize that Murray, 48, patiently planned his crime, waiting to pull the inside job in the early morning hours following a night when the dance club and restaurant in Mandalay Bay would have larger than usual revenue.
"Obviously, we haven't spoken with Mr. Murray, but that's our conclusion considering when he did it," Lt. Larry Spinosa said.
Police say that big-money opportunity arose May 3, the night Mandalay Bay hosted the Oscar De La Hoya-Yory Boy Campos bout and a near-sellout crowd of more than 11,000.
"He picked fight night for the embezzlement," prosecutor Ron Bloxham said.
Rumjungle, a hugely popular night spot known for drawing partying celebrities, was filled with big-spending boxing fans after the match, many of whom would be drinking and dancing well into the morning hours.
According to a police report, one of the club's managers, Robert Morgenthal, told police he and Murray went to deposit the night's cash earnings into the safe early Sunday.
"Murray verbally tells Morgenthal he has the money inside his bag, and tells him the amount $94,875," the report states.
Video surveillance shows Murray following Morgenthal into the room and then dropping bags into the drop chute for the safe. Both men then sign a log next to the safe.
Murray finished his shift, and has not been seen since, police said.
On Monday morning, the nightclub's accountant discovered the safe actually held "two bags filled with seven stacks of plain white paper cut into the size of U.S. currency, rubber-banded with one bill of U.S. currency on top, and play money on bottom," the report states.
Club officials notified police, and detectives soon discovered Murray was the only employee who had access to the safe who could not be located for an interview.
When police searched Murray's apartment, on Las Vegas Boulevard about five miles south of the resort, they recovered more evidence implicating Murray.
Detective Nathan Chio wrote in his report that he recovered "a package of play money from the kitchen table identical to those that were found at the crime scene."
On the floor were "pieces of cut plain white paper, and pieces of the play money," Chio wrote.
The detective later wrote that he believed Murray filled the bank bags with the worthless paper at home and carried them into the club in a shoulder bag seen on the surveillance footage and switched them with the real money bags while alone.
It remains unclear whether officials at rumjungle were aware of Murray's criminal history, which includes a conviction in Colorado for robbery, and whether he faced a background check before he was hired and trusted with such sums at rumjungle.
"I'm not at liberty to discuss it," rumjungle General Manager Kelley Jones said in declining comment on several questions.
Police are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Murray, who is white, 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. He wears glasses. He was last seen driving a gray 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche sport utility vehicle with Arizona license plates reading 123 HGZ.
But investigators are warning citizens not to try and take him into custody.
"We believe he is armed and dangerous," Spinosa said.
Anyone with information can call police at 229-3573. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime- Stoppers at 385-5555.
