The veteran trial lawyer recently represented Duane “Keffe D” Davis in the nationally watched Tupac Shakur murder case.
LAS VEGAS, NV — Michael Sanft, a prominent Las Vegas trial attorney who recently defended Duane “Keffe D” Davis in the Tupac Shakur murder trial, has died at age 55, according to the Clark County coroner’s office and local reports.
Sanft was found dead at his home, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which reported that a friend discovered his body Friday morning. Other local reporting said Sanft had been reported dead Thursday night. The Clark County coroner’s office confirmed his death Friday. His cause and manner of death remained pending, and authorities had released few details about the circumstances.
A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson told the Review-Journal that Sanft’s death did not appear suspicious. FOX5 reported that police referred questions about the death to the coroner’s office. No official cause had been announced as of Sunday.
Sanft had gained national attention in recent months as the defense attorney for Davis, the only person charged in connection with the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis was convicted in August of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon and was later sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. Sanft had argued that the evidence did not prove his client was responsible for organizing the fatal shooting.
The attorney took Davis’ case without charging a fee. Before trial, Sanft said he believed Davis was innocent and described taking the case after another lawyer withdrew. After the conviction, Sanft continued to challenge the prosecution’s case and indicated that the verdict would be appealed. Court records cited in published reports show a notice of appeal was filed Oct. 30, about a week before Sanft’s death.
Sanft was also known for a lengthy career handling criminal and civil cases in Nevada. He served as lead trial attorney at SOS Injury Lawyers, where the firm said he had tried more than 150 cases to jury verdict and argued before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His practice included personal injury litigation as well as high-profile criminal defense work.
According to his law firm biography, Sanft spent part of his childhood in Tonga before moving with his family to San Diego at age 12. He later attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii. The firm described those early experiences as an important influence on his work and his approach to clients.
Sanft also represented former Pahrump Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore in a federal criminal case before withdrawing after her conviction. Fiore was later pardoned by President Donald Trump. Sanft’s other work included serious criminal cases that drew significant attention in the Las Vegas legal community.
Friends and colleagues remembered Sanft following news of his death. Michael Sloan, a Clark County District Court marshal who rode motorcycles with Sanft, told the Review-Journal that Sanft was “one of the best human beings I knew.” His death came only weeks after the conclusion of one of Nevada’s most closely watched criminal trials.
The Clark County coroner’s office had not announced a cause or manner of death as of Sunday. The notice of appeal in Davis’ case remains on file, while publicly available reports had not identified who would assume responsibility for the appeal following Sanft’s death.
Author note: Last updated November 8, 2026.