The Barrier Family Seeks Justice in James' Death

A Tragic Death and Lingering Questions

James "Buffalo Jim" Barrier's death nearly two decades ago has left a trail of unanswered questions and deep emotional scars for his family and friends. While the Clark County Coroner's Office officially ruled it an accidental overdose, many believe there is more to the story.

Jennifer Barrier, James's daughter, expressed her frustration and sorrow over the circumstances surrounding her father’s death. “He didn’t deserve to lose his life like this. He lost his life, and he deserves justice,” she said. Her sentiment is echoed by Steve Miller, a former Las Vegas city councilman and close friend of James. “All of us who knew Buffalo knew that he never would kill himself on that day,” Miller added.

The case took a dramatic turn when Rick Rizzolo, owner of the Crazy Horse Too strip club, pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges. The FBI had previously linked Rizzolo to mob ties, and he was in a bitter feud with Barrier. This conflict stemmed from Barrier’s refusal to give up his business on Industrial Road, which Rizzolo wanted to expand. Despite Rizzolo's sentencing, concerns about James's safety persisted.

“He said he was concerned for his safety,” Jennifer recalled. “He said, 'Rick went to prison, and when he gets out it's going to be a war.'” On April 4, 2008, Rizzolo was released from federal custody. That same day, Barrier received a threatening letter from a self-described hitman. “He felt that whoever wrote that letter cared for him and was trying to forewarn him,” Miller said.

Barrier had a chilling prediction about what might happen. “I asked him, 'What do you think would happen to you?' He said, 'If anything happens to me, it would be done through a stratagem. It would be made to look like I died from a drug overdose in a hotel with women.'”

A day later, Barrier left his home to meet a friend. That was the last time he spoke with his family. The woman he was with, identified only as "Lisa," did not call paramedics. On April 6, Barrier’s body was found by a maid inside a room at the Motel 6 off of Boulder Highway. Officers discovered a white powdery substance on his shirt and face.

“You look at the full scene. I looked at all of the photos. It looked like a setup,” Jennifer said. Surveillance video from that night showed Barrier in good spirits while checking in. However, the autopsy revealed he died shortly after. The woman he was with initially told officers she left the room when he went to the bathroom, but later changed her story, claiming she left after he had a seizure.

“If he was convulsing and Lisa is telling the truth, it wouldn't look like that,” Jennifer said. According to the Clark County Coroner, Barrier died of a heart muscle disease due to cocaine in his body. When questioned about the findings, former Clark County Coroner Michael Murphy stood by the report.

However, former FBI agent Robert Clymer, founder of Sin City Private Investigators, believes the case should be reopened. “I think there's more. Yeah, if the bureau could get involved, that would be awesome,” Clymer said. “If somebody knows some information, I think the FBI would be interested in learning that information.”

Jennifer remains convinced that federal investigators believe the case is suspicious. “If this was just my dad died of a cocaine overdose, they would sit me down and show me the proof,” she said. She also mentioned that an FBI agent who recently retired had warned her about the potential consequences of reopening the case.

Despite these concerns, the FBI has not provided a direct response to Jennifer’s inquiries. “An FBI agent that I was working with who recently retired had said if this case opens, it would open a can of worms,” Jennifer recalled. “And I said, 'Is that a good thing?' He said, 'Yeah, that would keep us busy.' I said, 'What's the holdup?' 'Metro. They need to reopen the case so that we can work with them.'"

Jennifer insists that new evidence is not the only path forward. “Looking at new evidence is not going to matter,” she said. “Let's go back to the real details here and let's evaluate that first. Let's go to the ABCs and not the XYZs.” She simply wants to know what happened 17 years ago and find closure for her family.

Family members have requested that Barrier's body be exhumed, but this has not occurred. As the case continues to unfold, the search for truth and justice remains ongoing.