Cold Case Investigations
Tuesday, July 07
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Clark County Library
Large Conference RoomCalling all Las Vegas amateur detectives! Come watch a short video and then discuss and debate the facts of the case in an attempt to determine the killer(s).
July 7th Sonny Liston
Facts of the Case
**Date of Death:** Officially listed as **December 30, 1970** (estimated by police based on accumulated newspapers and milk bottles at his Las Vegas home).
**Discovery:** His wife, Geraldine Liston, found his body on **January 5, 1971**, after returning from a two-week trip visiting family. She noticed a foul odor and piled-up papers outside.
**Official Cause of Death:**
- Lung congestion (pulmonary congestion and edema) due to heart failure / coronary insufficiency (poor oxygen and blood supply to the heart muscle).
- Clark County Coroner Mark Herman ruled it natural causes. Liston had pre-existing heart muscle hardening and lung disease.
**Toxicology:**
Traces of morphine and codeine (heroin breakdown products) were found in his tissues, consistent with heroin use. However, the levels were **not high enough to cause death** by overdose, according to the coroner.
**Investigation:** Las Vegas police found **no signs of foul play**. No homicide investigation was pursued. Needle marks were noted but not conclusive.
**Age:** Approximately 38–40 (his exact birth year is uncertain, listed around 1930).
**Context:** Liston was a former undisputed heavyweight champion (1962–1964) with known ties to organized crime figures earlier in his career, which fuels ongoing speculation. He struggled with personal issues post-boxing.
**Bottom line:** The official ruling is natural causes with possible drug involvement, but not a slam-dunk overdose. The delayed discovery, his reported fear of needles, and his mob-adjacent history keep the conspiracy theories alive. No definitive proof of murder has ever emerged.
Jan 6 Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel
Feb 3 Pope John Paul I
Mar 3 Hinterkaifeck Murders
Apr 7 Princess Diana
May 5 Jimmy Hoffa
Jun 2 Natalie Wood
Jul 7 Sonny Liston
Aug 4 Alexander the Great
Sep 1 Marilyn Monroe
Oct 6 Edgar Allan Poe
Nov 3 Pharaoh Ramesses III
Dec 1 Sodder Children Disappearance
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Free & open to the public.
Call 702.507.3427 for more information.
AGE GROUP: | Seniors | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Community Events |
Clark County Library
| Mon, Jun 08 | 10:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Tue, Jun 09 | 10:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Wed, Jun 10 | 10:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Thu, Jun 11 | 10:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Fri, Jun 12 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Sat, Jun 13 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Sun, Jun 14 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
Originally opening in 1966 as a three-room library within the Airport Annex building, the Clark County Library moved in 1967 to a storefront. In 1971, the library moved again to its current location using deeded land from the County and with money awarded by the Max C. Fleishman Foundation. The building went on to have two remodels: one completed in 1986, and the second completed in 1994, which resulted in the three-story, 120,000-square-foot building it is today. This redesign notably included a 399-seat theater and an 80-seat black box theater/dance studio. The Library District also added the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, which provides a place for teens to explore and master new technologies and digital skills.
