Michael Sanft, Attorney Who Defended Tupac Murder Defendant ‘Keffe D,’ Found Dead at 55

Michael Sanft, the Las Vegas defense attorney who represented Duane “Keffe D” Davis in the high-profile murder trial involving rap legend Tupac Shakur, has died at the age of 55. Sanft was found dead inside his Las Vegas home on Friday morning, November 6, 2026, according to reports confirmed by the Clark County Coroner’s Office. His unexpected death came just days after he filed an appeal challenging Davis’ conviction in the decades-old case. Authorities have not yet determined the cause or manner of death, although police said the circumstances did not appear suspicious.

Sanft became widely known for taking on the defense of Davis, who was convicted of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon for his role in orchestrating Shakur’s 1996 killing. The trial attracted national attention because the rapper’s murder had remained unsolved for nearly three decades. Prosecutors argued that Davis helped organize the shooting after an earlier confrontation involving Shakur, former Death Row Records executive Suge Knight and Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson. Although Davis was not accused of firing the fatal shots himself, prosecutors maintained that he helped arrange the attack and supplied the gun used in the shooting.

Throughout the trial, Sanft challenged the prosecution’s case and questioned the credibility of Davis’ statements about the killing. He also criticized the police investigation, arguing that important aspects of the case had not been properly established. Davis was ultimately found guilty in August 2026 and sentenced on October 13 to 40 years to life in prison. Following the verdict, Sanft publicly expressed disappointment but maintained that his legal team had done everything possible. He said Davis viewed the conviction as only the first phase of the legal battle, and the defense planned to continue fighting through an appeal.

On October 30, Sanft filed a formal notice of appeal on Davis’ behalf. The filing came only one week before the attorney was discovered dead. His sudden passing leaves questions about how the appeal will proceed and who will take over the legal representation. Davis remains in prison while the case moves into the appellate process. He was the first and, so far, only person charged in connection with Shakur’s September 1996 murder.

Beyond the Tupac case, Sanft was regarded as an experienced trial attorney in Nevada. According to his professional biography, he had tried more than 150 cases before juries and represented clients in several high-profile legal battles. Friends and colleagues described him as charismatic, approachable and exceptionally skilled in the courtroom. Michael Sloan, a longtime friend and Clark County court marshal, remembered him as one of the best people he had known. Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo also paid tribute, describing Sanft as one of Las Vegas’ premier defense attorneys and saying his death was a loss both professionally and personally.

Sanft leaves behind two children and a legal community mourning the loss of a prominent attorney. His death has drawn renewed attention because it occurred so soon after the conclusion of one of the most closely watched murder trials in recent years. However, investigators have not announced any evidence connecting his death to the Tupac case, and police have said it does not currently appear suspicious. For now, the official cause of death remains pending, while Davis’ conviction and planned appeal continue without the lawyer who led his defense at trial.

Source: https://people.com/michael-sanft-dead-lawyer-for-duane-keffe-d-davis-in-tupac-shakur-murder-trail-dies-55-12242028