The death of a 38-year old Lynnwood man at ilani Casino Resort in October that was initially under investigation has now officially been ruled a homicide caused by fentanyl toxicity, according to an updated release from the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office Wednesday, May 27.
The updated determination further solidifies earlier findings and allegations against a Battle Ground woman accused of drugging and robbing the man before he died in his hotel room at ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office, which contracts with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to provide medical examiner services, identified the decedent as Arslan, 38, of Lynnwood. The office stated Arslan was found dead Oct. 5, 2025, at the hotel. A last name has never been released for Arslan.
According to the updated findings, the cause of death was fentanyl toxicity and the manner of death was ruled homicide. The medical examiner’s office also stated the injury occurred at the hotel and that the fentanyl was “administered by other person(s).”
According to 2025 court documents, Arslan’s toxicology report by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office came back with fentanyl, the only drug in his system.
The ruling comes months after 34-year-old Raylin Benzie, of Battle Ground, was arrested and charged in Clark County Superior Court in connection with Arslan’s death.
Benzie remains held in the Clark County Jail on $10 million bail. She faces charges of first-degree murder, controlled substance homicide, placing poison or other harmful substances in a drink, first-degree robbery and second-degree theft, among other charges, according to the Clark County Jail roster.
Investigators allege Benzie drugged Arslan in his hotel room during the early morning hours of Oct. 4 before stealing from him.
According to a probable cause affidavit previously filed in the case, officers responded to the ilani Casino Hotel on Oct. 5 after receiving reports of a deceased man in one of the rooms. Officers arrived and found Arslan dead inside.
Court documents state Benzie later admitted during a police interview that she intended to incapacitate Arslan in order to rob him, but said she used fentanyl after forgetting to bring what she described as her usual “date rape drug.”
According to investigators, surveillance footage showed Benzie entering Arslan’s room during the early morning hours of Oct. 4 and remaining there for about an hour before leaving alone. She later returned to the room with another man identified in court documents as Ivan Cortez-Escutia. The pair remained inside for about seven minutes before leaving again.
Court records state Benzie initially denied any involvement in Arslan’s death when questioned by detectives.
“No, no, no, he was f*****g snoring,” Benzie told investigators after learning Arslan had died, according to court documents. “He was sleeping … That’s f*****g weird. That doesn’t make any sense. He was f*****g snoring.”
Investigators alleged Benzie targeted Arslan after previously meeting him at the casino in September. According to court records, Benzie told detectives Arslan had offered to pay her with casino winnings in exchange for sex.
When the two met again on Oct. 4, Arslan allegedly provided Benzie with a casino voucher worth $1,280 after she arrived at his room.
Court documents state Benzie later told detectives she noticed what she believed was cash inside Arslan’s wallet. When officers searched the hotel room after Arslan’s death, investigators collected drinking glasses containing liquid evidence. Officers also found Arslan’s wallet empty, according to court records. A hotel safe inside the room was reportedly left open and empty. Investigators also noted that although Arslan had been issued two room keys, only one was recovered.
The investigation also uncovered numerous text messages sent by Benzie before and after the incident that prosecutors allege outlined her plans to drug and rob men for money.
According to court records, one message sent before the incident read: “Lmao I’m dead I need to find a rich man to rob lol I’m about to be evicted out of my spot and I can’t have that bc I don’t have any familys house I can go to or a f*****g car since I just totaled my new one I just bought so I’m trippin u got any ideas?”
In another exchange included in the affidavit, Benzie allegedly wrote, “Lol no I’m gunna get to know him then drug him to sleep n take it.”
Other messages referenced Arslan directly and discussed plans for making him go “night night” when he returned to ilani later that week.
According to court documents, Benzie also allegedly texted another man shortly before meeting Arslan, writing, “I’m about to be on my way to the casino to go hit this lick.”
Investigators said additional texts referenced plans to administer large amounts of Valium.
The affidavit also detailed frantic messages Benzie allegedly sent in the hours after the encounter with Arslan.
“OMG call meeee!!!” one message stated.
Another read, “Everything went wrong!!!”
In a later message included in court documents, Benzie allegedly wrote, “I PANICKED AND DID SOMETHING DUMB I NEED OUT OF HERE PLEASE!!”
Another message stated, “I COULD GO AWAY FOR A VERY LONG F*****G TIME AND I JUST NEED OUT OF HERE.”
Investigators also alleged Benzie texted another individual while still inside the hotel room, stating, “I’m in the room looking for the cash.”
At the time of Benzie’s arrest in October, the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office had not yet finalized the cause and manner of death.
Benzie’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 10 at 9 a.m.
