Green Valley Ranch's Exec Death ruled accidental

LAS VEGAS -- The combination of a powerful pain killer and alcohol caused the death of a Las Vegas area casino executive featured in The Discovery Channel's "American Casino" television series, authorities said Monday.

Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy said the death of 33-year-old Michael Tata has been ruled accidental. Tata was found dead July 6 at his Henderson home.

Murphy said toxicology tests showed Tata had used the drug Fentanyl. The drug is a potent narcotic often used by cancer patients to treat severe pain. Doctors warn the drug, a respiratory depressant, should never be mixed with alcohol.

Tata was named vice president of hotel operations at Station Casinos' Green Valley Ranch hotel-casino in January. He was a 1996 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and began working at the Henderson casino in June 2001.

He moved to Las Vegas in 1993 from Buffalo, N.Y.


The Associated Press

Drugs??? Suddenly i don't feel so bad for him..idiot

I wonder who gave him the drug? He sure was'nt using it legally.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone slipped it into his drink. This guy was pretty anal, so I would doubt that he would take a potent narcotic respitory depressant and then drink a lot of alcohol on purpose. Sounds fishy.

I don't think it's unreasonable to assume the guy was using. I know several people, although shady, who take Vicadin recreationally, and mix it with beer. They claim the it takes them pretty much above the clouds. I'm no doctor, but I think it's safe to say the guy didn't suffer before he died.