Bruce Charles Weinstein, a 46-year-old bookmaker and gambler, disappeared on July 5, 1996, from his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The circumstances of his disappearance were highly suspicious and led to a extensive and complex investigation. Weinstein's family, particularly his mother Sylvia White and his ex-wife Elizabeth Tuch, were immediately alarmed when he failed to contact them, as he was a man of strict habits and always kept in touch, especially with his mother whom he called daily to set
the line for his bookmaking business.
Weinstein's girlfriend, Amy DeChant, reported his disappearance to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department claiming that he had left the house the previous night and had not returned. However, this story raised several red flags. DeChant told investigators that Weinstein would occasionally leave town, but he always informed people of his whereabouts. The fact that he left behind his phone, wallet, and favorite pair of sandals was out of character and indicated something was amiss.
As the investigation progressed, it became clear that DeChant's story was inconsistent and suspicious. She described a harrowing event where she claimed to have been surprised by masked intruders who identified themselves as 'the mob.' According to her, these intruders shot Weinstein, dragged his body downstairs, and instructed her to clean up the mess and remain silent. Despite this dramatic account, detectives found several discrepancies and evidence that suggested DeChant and her associate, Bobby Jones, were involved in Weinstein's disappearance and subsequent murder.
The search for Weinstein's body was extensive, and on August 11, 1996, hunters discovered his skeletal remains in a remote desert area outside of Las Vegas. The body was badly decomposed, but dental records confirmed it was Weinstein. A. 380 caliber bullet was removed from the body, and his death was ruled a homicide. The investigation also uncovered a second body in the area, but it was not linked to Weinstein's case.
The investigation led to the arrest of Amy DeChant and Bobby Jones. Jones was found in New Mexico on June 7, 1997, and DeChant was located in Florida on January 3, 1998, where she was hiding out in a nudist camp and working as a bartender. Both were indicted for conspiracy to commit robbery and/or murder, murder with the use of a deadly weapon, robbery with the use of a deadly weapon, and accessory to murder.
During the trial in October 1998, prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that DeChant and Jones had orchestrated Weinstein's murder to obtain the large sum of money he typically kept at home. The prosecution's theory was that an extortion plot had gone fatally wrong. Despite DeChant's continued claims that mobsters were responsible for Weinstein's death, the jury convicted her of first-degree murder. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, in October 2000, the state's high court overturned her conviction, and DeChant accepted a plea bargain rather than face a second trial.
The investigation and subsequent trial revealed a complex web of deceit and greed. DeChant's access to Weinstein's hidden safe, the discovery of a large sum of money in her possession, and the inconsistencies in her story all pointed to her involvement in the crime. The case highlighted the meticulous work of the LVMPD in unraveling the events surrounding Weinstein's disappearance and murder, ultimately leading to the conviction of those responsible.
