The Las Vegas attorney who represented the man convicted in Tupac Shakur‘s 1996 murder has been found dead, just one week after filing an appeal challenging the high-profile verdict.
8NewsNow reported on Friday, November 6, that Michael Sanft, who represented Duane “Keffe D” Davis throughout the high-profile trial, was found dead at his home.
His passing has left friends and colleagues mourning an experienced attorney who had spent decades working in Nevada courtrooms.
Sanft, 55, was found at his Las Vegas residence Friday morning, his friend Michael Sloan told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
A police spokesperson told the newspaper that the circumstances did not appear suspicious. Authorities have not released additional information.
Sloan, a Clark County District Court marshal who often rode motorcycles with Sanft, remembered his longtime friend fondly. “He was one of my best friends and one of the best human beings I knew,” Sloan told the outlet.
Sanft is survived by two children. The Clark County coroner’s office confirmed his passing but said the cause and manner of death had not yet been determined.
Michael Sanft Represented Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis in Tupac Murder Trial
The Nevada attorney gained national attention while defending Davis in the decades-old murder case involving Shakur.
According to the BBC, Davis, 63, was found guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon on Monday, August 31.
A judge sentenced him to 40 years to life in prison on Tuesday, October 13.
Shakur was 25 when he was shot during a drive-by attack near the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996. The acclaimed rapper died six days later.
Prosecutors argued that Davis organized the shooting in retaliation for an earlier confrontation involving his nephew, Orlando Anderson, and Shakur’s entourage.
Davis was the only person charged in connection with the killing. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
Michael Sanft Filed Appeal Before His Passing
Sanft represented Davis without charging him legal fees and remained committed to challenging the conviction. According to court records cited by FOX5 Las Vegas, a notice of appeal was filed Friday, October 30, just one week before the attorney was found dead.
Following the guilty verdict, Sanft spoke candidly about his disappointment and defended his legal team’s efforts.
“We had the best team possible in this case, from the motion practice work on this appeal to our investigator to our firm here at SOS Injury. We all did our part. I don’t see what I could’ve done differently,” he told FOX5.
The attorney also recalled Davis encouraging him to view the verdict as the beginning of another legal battle rather than the end of the case.
It remains unclear who will take over Davis’ appeal following Sanft’s passing.
Beyond the Tupac murder case, Sanft had built an extensive legal career in Nevada. He served as lead trial attorney at SOS Injury Lawyers and, according to Billboard, tried more than 150 cases before juries.
Lawyer, 55, Who Defended Tupac Shakur’s Convicted Killer Found Dead Days After Appeal