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LAS VEGAS – The family of a Filipino American woman killed by her former boyfriend is making sure that justice is served.

Court proceedings have begun on a man who had admitted to killing 21-year-old Filipino-American Makayla Leilani Rhiner earlier this year.

On Aug. 3, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) patrol officers were dispatched to investigate reports of a deceased woman at an apartment complex in a southwest neighborhood here. The woman was later identified as Rhiner.

Investigation indicated that the victim was walking into the unattached garage at the apartment complex when she was attacked from behind.

Rhiner was found with multiple incised stab wounds in the neck and chest. LVMPD reported that Rhiner suffered from head trauma.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified 33-year-old Brandon Hanson as a suspect. Hanson was reported to have been dating Rhiner.

Hanson told police that he was severely depressed over their break-up. He threatened to commit suicide. He also vandalized Rhiner’s mom’s car and her new boyfriend's car.

He told police that he had gone angry and “stabbed her in the neck”.

On Wednesday, Hanson appeared before justice of the peace Harmony Letizia in a preliminary hearing.

District attorney Alex Chen, the prosecutor assigned to the case, said the prosecution team is ready for trial if needed.

“Today was set for the preliminary hearing,” he said. “However, myself and my partner elected to go to the grand jury so the case is now being indicted and he is going before [the] district court judge in the next couple of days.”

Chen said they will continue to seek justice for Rhiner’s death.

“We certainly are doing this for Makayla, justice for Makayla and for her family as well.”

While waiting for his jury trial, Hanson remains in jail with no bail set.

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