October 04, 2017
Las Vegas Gunman’s Girlfriend Releases Statement
Marilou Danley has released a statement following boyfriend Stephen Paddock's Las Vegas massacre.
In the statement, read by attorney Matthew Lombard outside the FBI field office in L.A., the 62-year-old said, "I am devastated... and my prayers go out to the victims and their families... my heart breaks for all who have lost loved ones."
Danley went on to say, “It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone.”
The statement continued, “I voluntarily flew back to America because I know the FBI and the Las Vegas police department wanted to talk to me, and I want to talk to them.”
She also detailed her whereabouts, revealing she thought Stephen was trying to break up with her when he bought her a ticket to the Philippines and wired her $100,000 to buy a house.
“A little more than two weeks ago, Stephen told me he'd found a cheap ticket for me to the Philippines, and he wanted me to take a trip home to see my family,” she said. “Like all Filipinos abroad, I was excited to go home and see family and friends. While there, he wired me money, which he said was for me to buy a house for me and my family. I was grateful, but honestly I was worried that first the unexpected trip home and then the money was a way of breaking up with me.”
On Tuesday, Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo told reporters at a press conference that Danley is a person of interest, and confirmed that investigators hoped to speak with her. She has not been arrested.
Late Sunday night, Las Vegas was the site of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Fifty-nine people were killed and more than 500 injured while attending the final night of the Route 91 Harvest festival.