LAS VEGAS — Matejs Balodis was arrested Dec. 16, on an open murder charge in connection with the death of Sherman Dale Lamb.
Lamb was found unresponsive in a hotel room at the South Point Casino.
Balodis, a Latavian citizen, was in the US completing his studies as a foreign exchange student in Texas.
He claims that he was on his way home for the holidays and had a layover in Las Vegas.
His flight to New York was allegedly cancelled and that is when he allegedly met Sherman Dale Lamb, 55, who offered to assist him.
Lamb arranged for Balodis to get a hotel room at the South Point Casino, and it appears the men were staying in the room together.
Balodis said he had provided Lamb with personal information.
He then became convinced that Lamb wanted his money and he asked for his information back.
He claims that is when the confrontation with Lamb turned physical.
Fearing for his life, he said he defended himself.
Once Lamb was not responsive, authorities were contacted, and when they responded to the scene they found Lamb unresponsive in the hotel room.
At his hearing this morning, it was determined that there was not enough evidence to move forward with the case and the open murder charge has been dropped against Balodis.
It appears that we will never know the full story.
Looking at numerous airline flights, there are competitively priced flights from Texas to New York that stop in places other than Las Vegas.
Why was Lamb in the room with Balodis?
What was the nature of their relationship?
Why would a 22-year-old man allow a 55-year-old man that he purportedly just met into his hotel room?
Were they having a sexual relationship?
Since there is not enough evidence to disprove the version of events that Baldois has told authorities, all charges have been dropped.