MMA Fighter Charged In UNLV Grad's Death
Sindelar, 25, Accused Of Beating Victim
POSTED: 10:39 am PDT June 21, 2010
UPDATED: 4:23 pm PDT June 21, 2010
LAS VEGAS -- A former University of Nevada, Las Vegas, football player slipped into unconsciousness and died following a brawl with a mixed martial arts fighter at the Luxor resort.
That’s according to an arrest report for 25-year-old Jason Sindelar, who was arrested Saturday morning and charged with killing 26-year-old DeMario Reynolds Sr. of Henderson.
Reynolds’ fiancée, Iman Aubry, told police she saw Sindelar slap his girlfriend, Charmaine Kemp, at a party being held at a room in the hotel.
When Aubry said Sindelar hit Kemp, she asked Reynolds to intervene.
Witnesses told police that Sindelar and Reynolds were close friends, but the argument escalated into a fight inside a bathroom, with both men exchanging several punches.
Eventually, the fight stopped, police said, and Sindelar left while Reynolds sat on a couch, trying to catch his breath. At that point Aubry and another witness said Sindelar returned to the room and started punching Reynolds until he fell unconscious.
Paramedics were called, but Reynolds died after being transported to Desert Springs Hospital. The Clark County Coroner has not released the official cause of death.
Sindelar was interviewed by detectives and, according to the arrest report, said Reynolds grabbed him by the throat and pulled him away from the argument with Kemp. He denied that any fight took place in the hotel room.
A 2006 graduate of UNLV, Reynolds worked at Cathouse nightclub inside the Luxor. He has a 6-year-old son, Demario Jr., according to school records.
In an interview with FOX5, Reynolds’ family said the fight started at an event hosted by Aubry, who operates the “Purrfect LV” website advertising “Las Vegas Swinger Parties.”
A message on the website posted after the incident mentions Reynolds’ death and informs customers that upcoming events have been canceled through July.
Tonight On FOX5 News At Five: Reynolds’ Family Reacts To Tragedy
Sindelar is charged with murder and battery. His MMA career consists of one professional loss and four amateur victories, according to the fighting website MixedMartialArts.com.
He has refused FOX5's request for an interview at the Clark County Detention Center.
DeMario, you will be missed.
