RIDGEFIELD, Wash. — A woman is facing serious charges, including first-degree murder, after her alleged involvement in the death of a man at the Ilani Casino earlier this month. A judge has set her bail at $10 million.
The incident unfolded on the afternoon of October 5, when police responded to a report of a death in a hotel room. Authorities discovered a 38-year-old man, later identified as Arslan, whose lifeless body was found on the 10th floor. Initial investigations revealed a series of events leading to his tragic demise.
Surveillance footage from the casino is central to the case against 34-year-old Raylin Marie Benzie. The video, captured in the early hours of October 4, showed Benzie entering Arslan’s hotel room. She reportedly stayed for about an hour before leaving alone. The footage further indicated that she later returned to the room with another man.
During her first interrogation, Benzie denied any involvement in Arslan’s death, responding incredulously, “No, no, no, he was snoring… that doesn’t make sense.” She claimed that Arslan had agreed to pay her $1,200 in casino winnings in exchange for sex, although she stated that the encounter never occurred. When questioned about taking the money, Benzie expressed no remorse, attributing her actions to the man’s disrespect.
Another woman, who spoke with authorities about Benzie, revealed that Benzie expressed intentions of seducing and robbing wealthy men. Observations of Benzie’s behavior during questioning raised further suspicions, with this acquaintance commenting on her seeming panic, leading to concerns about her possible involvement in the man’s death.
A man who had entered the hotel room alongside Benzie reported hearing her make alarming statements about the incident, including claims that she had drugged Arslan, suggesting he had likely overdosed. Additional inquiries revealed that Benzie had allegedly admitted to placing fentanyl in his drink.
In the days following Arslan’s death, law enforcement obtained a warrant to search Benzie’s phone, uncovering a text in which she pleaded for someone to pick her up from the casino, stating, “I PANICKED AND DID SOMETHING DUMB I NEED OUT OF HERE PLEASE… I COULD GO AWAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.”
Further surveillance footage showed Benzie cashing out Arslan’s casino winnings, raising additional red flags for investigators. An autopsy later confirmed the presence of fentanyl and norfentanyl in Arslan’s system, with no other substances detected.
Benzie was formally charged on Monday with multiple offenses, including controlled substances homicide and robbery. Following a court hearing Tuesday, her bail was increased to $10 million, reflecting the serious nature of the allegations. The trial is scheduled to begin in January 2026.