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Marilou Danley, Gunman’s Girlfriend, Was ‘Madly in Love’ Marilou Danley, Gunman’s Girlfriend, Says She Was Unaware of His Plans
(about 4 hours later)
Read the latest on the Las Vegas shooting with Wednesday’s live updates. Marilou Danley thought he was breaking up with her.
The girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman, Marilou Danley, arrived at the Los Angeles Federal Building early Wednesday for questioning by the F.B.I., a law enforcement official said. A little more than two weeks ago, Ms. Danley’s boyfriend, Stephen Paddock, told her that he had found an inexpensive ticket to the Philippines so she could visit her family.
Ms. Danley, 62, who had been overseas since before the shooting but returned to the United States on Tuesday night, is one of the few people who might know what drove the gunman, Stephen Paddock, to kill 58 people and wound hundreds more from a Las Vegas hotel this week. While she was there, he wired her money and told her to buy a house for her and her family.
She is considered a “person of interest” in the investigation of the attack, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Tuesday afternoon. It seemed to Ms. Danley that he might be letting her down easy. Never, she said, did she think her “kind, caring, quiet,” boyfriend was capable of what he did Sunday, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds more at an outdoor concert from his Las Vegas hotel room.
It is not clear what, if anything, Ms. Danley knew about Mr. Paddock’s methodical plans to stockpile weapons and ferry them into a 32nd-floor hotel suite to commit mass murder. “It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone,” she said Wednesday in her first public comments since the shooting.
Mr. Paddock had recently wired thousands of dollars to the Philippines, a law enforcement official said. The statement, which was read by her lawyer, Matthew Lombard, came on the same day that a law enforcement official said she was questioned by F.B.I. agents trying to determine a motive for the deadly shooting.
“Person of interest” is a vague term that does not necessarily indicate that the person is suspected of committing a crime. Ms. Danley has not been charged with any crime, but investigators are hoping she will have insight into Mr. Paddock’s motives. It is not clear what, if anything, she knew about Mr. Paddock’s methodical plans to stockpile weapons and ferry them into a 32nd-floor hotel suite to commit mass murder.
Federal agents met Ms. Danley at her plane at Los Angeles International Airport, according to a law enforcement official. She evaded reporters waiting at the international terminal, and it was not known where she spent the night. In the statement, she said that she had no warning something so horrible was going to happen and that she would continue to pray for those who were harmed.
In an interview with an Australian news station, two sisters of Ms. Danley said she had been sent to the Philippines two weeks before the shooting. “I am a mother and a grandmother and my heart breaks for all who have lost loved ones,” she said.
“He sent her away so that he can plan what he is planning without interruptions,” one sister said. “In that sense, I thank him for sparing my sister’s life.” Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Ms. Danley was considered a “person of interest” in the investigation.
But she said that would not compensate for the dozens who were killed. “Person of interest” is a vague term that does not necessarily indicate that the person is suspected of committing a crime. Ms. Danley has not been charged with a crime, but investigators are hoping she will have insight into Mr. Paddock’s motives.
The two sisters were interviewed anonymously, with their faces obscured. Ms. Danley’s sisters Liza Werner and Amelia Manango live in Australia. “We don’t know what she knew, so I think a lot more will come about in the next 48 hours,” said Steven Wolfson, the district attorney of Clark County, which includes Las Vegas.
“She didn’t even know she was going to the Philippines until Steve said, ‘Marilou, I found you a cheap ticket to the Philippines,’” one of the sisters said. He said that investigators were examining the shooting from “every angle possible, and then some.”
They said their sister was “madly in love” with Mr. Paddock and that she “probably was even more shocked than us” by the shooting. And they vouched for their sister’s character, calling her a “gentle soul.” In her statement, Ms. Danley said she came back from the Philippines voluntarily to talk with the F.B.I. and other law enforcement officials.
“He done this solely himself,” one said. A law enforcement official said they were aware Mr. Paddock had recently wired thousands of dollars to the Philippines.
Reynaldo Bustos, her older brother, told ABC News that he called Ms. Danley after hearing about the shooting. “I called her up immediately and she said, ‘Relax, we shouldn’t worry about it. I’ll fix it. Do not panic. I have a clean conscience,’” he said. In an interview with an Australian news station, two sisters of Ms. Danley said they believed Mr. Paddock had sent her away so that he could plan the attack without her knowing.
The two sisters were interviewed anonymously, with their faces obscured. Ms. Danley’s sisters, Liza Werner and Amelia Manango, live in Australia.
They said that their sister was “madly in love” with Mr. Paddock and that she “probably was even more shocked than us” by the shooting.
“No one can put the puzzles together. No one,” one said during the interview. “Except Marilou. Because Steve is not here to talk anymore. Only Marilou can maybe help.”
Family members and former neighbors were shocked to see Ms. Danley’s name surface in connection with the shooting on news reports, as the police sought to find her hours after Mr. Paddock killed himself in his hotel room.Family members and former neighbors were shocked to see Ms. Danley’s name surface in connection with the shooting on news reports, as the police sought to find her hours after Mr. Paddock killed himself in his hotel room.
“She’s probably one of the most happy, outgoing, full-of-life people I’ve ever known,” said Dionne Waltrip, Ms. Danley’s former stepdaughter, who lives outside Fayetteville, Ark. “Everyone who has ever met her likes her.”“She’s probably one of the most happy, outgoing, full-of-life people I’ve ever known,” said Dionne Waltrip, Ms. Danley’s former stepdaughter, who lives outside Fayetteville, Ark. “Everyone who has ever met her likes her.”
Ms. Waltrip said her father, Geary Danley, traveled the world as an auditor for FedEx and met his future wife overseas.Ms. Waltrip said her father, Geary Danley, traveled the world as an auditor for FedEx and met his future wife overseas.
Ms. Danley has ties to the Philippines, and several news reports said she was born there. She spent many years in Australia, where news reports said she was married, and is an Australian citizen. Ms. Danley was born in the Philippines, relatives said, and spent many years in Australia, where she became a citizen and worked for a time as a tour guide. She was married to a man who later died.
After meeting Mr. Danley, she moved to Memphis. The couple wed in 1990 and their marriage lasted 25 years. At some point, she met Mr. Danley and moved to Memphis. The couple wed in 1990 and their marriage lasted 25 years.
Ms. Danley worked retail jobs, selling mostly clothing and jewelry. Both she and Mr. Danley had children from prior relationships. Ms. Waltrip was 20 when the couple got together; Ms. Danley has a daughter who now lives in California. The couple moved to Nevada when they retired. Ms. Danley worked retail jobs, selling mostly clothing and jewelry. Both she and Mr. Danley had children from previous relationships. Ms. Waltrip was 20 when the couple got together; Ms. Danley has a daughter who now lives in California. The couple moved to Nevada when they retired.
“They were extremely happy,” Ms. Waltrip said. “They loved each other very much.”“They were extremely happy,” Ms. Waltrip said. “They loved each other very much.”
But before the marriage ended, Ms. Danley met Mr. Paddock. She was working at a casino and he was a high-limit player, casino employees said. She worked there from 2010 to 2013, according to her LinkedIn account.But before the marriage ended, Ms. Danley met Mr. Paddock. She was working at a casino and he was a high-limit player, casino employees said. She worked there from 2010 to 2013, according to her LinkedIn account.
John Weinreich, an executive casino host at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa at the time, said he believed that Ms. Danley frequently attended to Mr. Paddock, serving him food and pointing out which machines might be ripe for a payout.John Weinreich, an executive casino host at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa at the time, said he believed that Ms. Danley frequently attended to Mr. Paddock, serving him food and pointing out which machines might be ripe for a payout.
When she was around, Mr. Weinreich said, Mr. Paddock did not seem to break from his intense gaming persona at all. Eventually, Ms. Danley became his regular host. When she was around, Mr. Weinreich said, Mr. Paddock did not seem to break from his intense gambling persona at all. Eventually, Ms. Danley became his regular host.
“Then she was just gone one day,” he said. “I asked some fellow workers and they said she went off with Stephen.”“Then she was just gone one day,” he said. “I asked some fellow workers and they said she went off with Stephen.”
She and Mr. Danley divorced in 2015. On the divorce papers, she listed her address as a condominium in Reno owned by Mr. Paddock.She and Mr. Danley divorced in 2015. On the divorce papers, she listed her address as a condominium in Reno owned by Mr. Paddock.
At the hilltop subdivision where the Danleys lived in Sparks, Nev., before the divorce, neighbors described Ms. Danley as a chatty extrovert who hosted cookouts and brought copious amounts of Filipino food to the semiannual block parties.At the hilltop subdivision where the Danleys lived in Sparks, Nev., before the divorce, neighbors described Ms. Danley as a chatty extrovert who hosted cookouts and brought copious amounts of Filipino food to the semiannual block parties.
“She was always cooking,” said Christine Riley, 46, a dietitian who lived a few doors down from Ms. Danley’s former residence.“She was always cooking,” said Christine Riley, 46, a dietitian who lived a few doors down from Ms. Danley’s former residence.
But when Ms. Danley was living with Mr. Paddock in a Reno subdivision, the couple were not viewed as sociable. “I thought maybe he was sick or something, because they were always in the house and the shades were always drawn shut,” said Susan Page, a retired financial analyst who was the couple’s next-door neighbor.But when Ms. Danley was living with Mr. Paddock in a Reno subdivision, the couple were not viewed as sociable. “I thought maybe he was sick or something, because they were always in the house and the shades were always drawn shut,” said Susan Page, a retired financial analyst who was the couple’s next-door neighbor.
Ms. Page said she occasionally saw Mr. Paddock working on an older sport utility vehicle that seemed to be Ms. Danley’s car, and other neighbors said he had a large safe in the garage.Ms. Page said she occasionally saw Mr. Paddock working on an older sport utility vehicle that seemed to be Ms. Danley’s car, and other neighbors said he had a large safe in the garage.
“They weren’t outgoing,” she said. “They didn’t participate in anything. Everybody around here, they go over to each other’s houses, they have a drink and they chitchat.”“They weren’t outgoing,” she said. “They didn’t participate in anything. Everybody around here, they go over to each other’s houses, they have a drink and they chitchat.”
Ms. Page added, “It wasn’t that they were unfriendly, they just didn’t socialize.”Ms. Page added, “It wasn’t that they were unfriendly, they just didn’t socialize.”
On her own, Ms. Danley could be friendly. Connie Allred, a 68-year-old retired dental receptionist, occasionally attended Zumba fitness classes with Ms. Danley at the subdivision’s clubhouse. She described Ms. Danley as a warm “world traveler” who went abroad several times a year and visited family in the Philippines and Los Angeles. On her own, Ms. Danley could be friendly. Connie Allred, 68, a retired dental receptionist, occasionally attended Zumba fitness classes with Ms. Danley at the subdivision’s clubhouse. She described Ms. Danley as a warm “world traveler” who went abroad several times a year and visited family in the Philippines and Los Angeles.
“She was always gone,” Ms. Allred said. “She’s a hard one to keep track of. We’d be in Zumba and then all of a sudden she would say, ‘I’m leaving for a couple months,’ and then she’d be back and then she’s traveling other places.”“She was always gone,” Ms. Allred said. “She’s a hard one to keep track of. We’d be in Zumba and then all of a sudden she would say, ‘I’m leaving for a couple months,’ and then she’d be back and then she’s traveling other places.”
Ms. Allred said she never met Mr. Paddock and Ms. Danley rarely talked about him, though she did mention his gambling habit. “She told us he was a professional gambler. She would laugh. We would tell our stories like, ‘We’ll go to the casino and I have my $20 limit,’ and she’s laughing us, like, ‘Oh he’s in the thirty, forty, fifty, hundred thousand range.’ And I’m like, ‘Whoa!’” Ms. Allred said she never met Mr. Paddock and Ms. Danley rarely talked about him, though she did mention his gambling habit. “She told us he was a professional gambler. She would laugh. We would tell our stories like, ‘We’ll go to the casino and I have my $20 limit,’ and she’s laughing at us, like, ‘Oh he’s in the thirty, forty, fifty, hundred thousand range.’ And I’m like, ‘Whoa!’”
Philippine immigration officials told ABS-CBN News, a Philippine news organization, that Ms. Danley left Manila on Sept. 22 for a trip to Hong Kong and returned on Sept. 25.Philippine immigration officials told ABS-CBN News, a Philippine news organization, that Ms. Danley left Manila on Sept. 22 for a trip to Hong Kong and returned on Sept. 25.
Eric Paddock, Mr. Paddock’s youngest brother, said his brother loved Ms. Danley and doted on her. For her part, he said, Ms. Danley made compromises like doing without perfume, hair spray and bubble baths in order to not set off his allergies. Though his brother was a multimillionaire, he said, he did not believe she was with him because he had money.Eric Paddock, Mr. Paddock’s youngest brother, said his brother loved Ms. Danley and doted on her. For her part, he said, Ms. Danley made compromises like doing without perfume, hair spray and bubble baths in order to not set off his allergies. Though his brother was a multimillionaire, he said, he did not believe she was with him because he had money.
Some people who knew Mr. Paddock said he could take on an imperious, exacting demeanor. But with Ms. Danley, he was different, Eric Paddock said.Some people who knew Mr. Paddock said he could take on an imperious, exacting demeanor. But with Ms. Danley, he was different, Eric Paddock said.
“She was probably one of the only people I’ve ever seen that he’d go out of his way to do a little thing for,” he said. “He went out of his way to be nice to her. This is not something Steve does — go out of his way.”“She was probably one of the only people I’ve ever seen that he’d go out of his way to do a little thing for,” he said. “He went out of his way to be nice to her. This is not something Steve does — go out of his way.”
He added: “Steve expected people to wait on him for the most part. But he waited on her sometimes. He would do what she wanted to do. He would defer to her in the way that he wouldn’t to the rest of humanity. Even me.”He added: “Steve expected people to wait on him for the most part. But he waited on her sometimes. He would do what she wanted to do. He would defer to her in the way that he wouldn’t to the rest of humanity. Even me.”