325: Vegas Icon "Buffalo Jim" Barrier's Sudden Death Ruled Accidental Despite Evidence Pointing To Murder
“Buffalo,” Jim Barrier was a Las Vegas icon. His flashy style, kind heart, and successful businesses had pushed him to celebrity status among Vegas locals. Jim’s close friend, journalist, and former city councilman Steve Miller said (quote), “Vegas is Liberace, Elvis, and Buffalo Jim". Jim was even an outspoken critic and opponent of the Mafia in Las Vegas, who many had said had left the town in the 1980s, but Jim fought against them and their continued reign over street-level crimes. But to understand what actually happened to Buffalo Jim, we need to go back and understand Jim’s early life, coming to Las Vegas, and the Mafia’s deep connection to Sin City.