Behind the glittering facade of Las Vegas, where neon lights dance ceaselessly and beckon tourists to gaming tables, lies a reality often obscured by the city’s endless glow.

Not everyone in Las Vegas is wealthy, and the report states that over 200,000 Filipinos reside in the state of Nevada.

Like many other ethnic groups, most Pinoys work diligently in casinos as card dealers, cashiers, or waitresses, and within the demanding healthcare industry.

While many Filipinos find success, others struggle due to lifestyle choices and poor life decisions.

Daisy Casalta, a Filipina nurse, understood the hardships of working overseas all too well.

A Life of Dedication

Born in 1986, Daisy was the youngest in her family. Her older brother, Ramil, described her as hardworking, kind, and sweet.

As the youngest, her siblings did everything to protect her, often saving her from harm during their childhood.

The Casalta family lived a quiet life in the province, and like many families striving for a better future, the siblings worked hard to finish their education and fight poverty.

Daisy pursued a nursing degree and became a licensed nurse. She later gained employment at a hospital, where she persevered for years despite the modest salary.

She knew that gaining experience was crucial to achieving her greater dreams.

After several years, Daisy happily arrived in Las Vegas, where she was reported to have worked as a nurse at a life care center, an assisted living facility.

Although it was difficult to be far from her loved ones, her homesickness was eased by the fact that she was surrounded by Filipinos everywhere she went in Nevada.

Daisy’s naturally friendly disposition allowed her to make many friends, a fact that brought joy to her family back home.

Reports indicated that when she was not working, the Pinay nurse frequently traveled, exploring various places inside and outside Nevada.

For nearly two years, everyone was happy, believing Daisy was successfully adjusting to her new life.

Daisy was reported to consistently contact her family and parents in the Philippines.

The Alarm

However, on January 10, 2014, her family grew deeply concerned. Daisy did not call or send a text message, which was highly unusual for her.

To ensure she was safe, they incessantly tried to contact her through social media, reaching out to her colleagues and anyone they knew who was close to Daisy.

Yet, not a single person knew of the Pinay’s whereabouts. Some of her Filipino friends suggested calling the authorities to perform a welfare check, thinking she might just be ill.

But the Casalta family’s hope of speaking to Daisy again vanished when the devastating news emerged: she was dead.

The news quickly reached the nurse’s family in the Philippines. Her friends, colleagues, and even her patients were shocked, especially because the authorities released very limited information to protect their ongoing investigation.

People could not help but form various theories. Some speculated she might have been killed in a hate crime, as reports suggested such incidents were increasing in America.

Others thought she might have resisted an intruder who broke into her apartment.

However, a few people wondered if Daisy had simply succumbed to the pressures of working overseas and being the sole breadwinner, choosing to end her own life.

All these theories were quickly dismissed after the police announced that the incident involving the 28-year-old nurse was being handled by their homicide unit.

This confirmation meant that the Filipina was indeed the victim of a crime.

A Community Rallies

Daisy’s body was quickly processed. Following the autopsy on January 17, 2014, her friend, Elizabeth Fisher, posted on her Facebook account, appealing to fellow nurses and acquaintances for help.

Fisher established a bank account where people could donate. The funds raised were intended to be given to the Casalta family to cover the expenses of repatriating Daisy’s remains to Bohol and for the funeral services.

With the help of the local Filipino community, they organized a vigil, set up car wash and bake sale fundraisers, and added all the proceeds to the collected fund.

“Mixed emotion, you know. We miss Dai. We’re just very sad for Daisy. I hope this ends soon so everyone can have peace, because we don’t know how long it will take,” a community member stated during the fundraiser.

Besides the financial support, they asked people to pray for Daisy’s family. Tragically, a few days after Daisy was killed, her grandmother in the Philippines also passed away, doubling the burden of grief on the family.

Daisy’s colleagues at the life care center also held their own vigil, attended by nearly 100 people. They remembered how good and kind Daisy was.

“She was sweet, kind, and pursued her studies to finish. She wanted to lift our parents out of poverty. My sister was truly good; she did nothing wrong,” her brother shared later.

When the autopsy report was released, the public learned the gruesome truth of the crime. The severity of the attack led some of her friends to say they wouldn’t wish such a fate on their worst enemy.

In later photos, Daisy’s remains were finally brought home to the Philippines.

In an interview, Daisy’s older brother, Ramil, shared that the family felt utterly devastated. His sister had left the country full of life, only to return in a casket.

Thanks to the funds raised by Elizabeth, the Casalta family was able to give Daisy a peaceful burial, but they vowed not to rest until justice was served.

“The way she died, we cannot accept it,” Ramil insisted.

The Killer Revealed

On March 12, 2014, more than two months after the crime, the public saw the suspected perpetrator for the first time.

The man was identified as Richard Dahan, a 48-year-old Filipino who was a naturalized American Citizen.

Some of Daisy’s friends were shocked and could not believe Dahan was capable of such evil toward his wife, as they had witnessed the couple’s apparent happiness.

However, investigators were confident they had enough evidence, arresting Dahan on a charge of first-degree murder. If convicted, the Filipino could face the death penalty.

During the preliminary hearing, Dahan pleaded Not Guilty, indicating his intention to fight the case in court before a jury.

The Casalta family was initially relieved by the case’s progress, but a significant and unexpected development occurred before the preliminary hearing could conclude.

The Dramatic Delay

During the hearing, Las Vegas Township Judge DeAnna Lipis noticed that the 48-year-old Dahan appeared confused by the proceedings.

When the judge questioned Dahan’s lawyer, the attorney explained that the defendant’s first language was Tagalog.

Therefore, Dahan struggled to follow when the prosecutor, the judge, and even his own attorney spoke in English.

Believing that Dahan truly could not understand the proceedings, the judge decided to postpone the court date until Dahan could secure a Tagalog interpreter. This was done to ensure he received due process under the law.

The public was largely in disbelief, with many criticizing Dahan and suggesting he was simply acting.

They argued that Dahan was fluid in English, having passed an English test when applying to become a naturalized American Citizen.

However, despite the commentary, the decision of the judge, who believed Dahan genuinely struggled to comprehend the language, remained unchanged.

The Plea and Sentence

Even after securing an interpreter, no trial took place. Dahan became afraid that if he fought the case before a jury, he might not only lose but also be sentenced to death.

Consequently, he accepted the plea deal offered by the prosecutor in exchange for the death penalty being dropped.

Though none of Daisy’s family members could attend the sentencing hearing, her brother, Ramil, spoke to the media about the couple’s relationship history.

Daisy and Dahan first met in the Philippines; Dahan’s family owned a resort in Bohol. Ramil said they did not object when the two started dating, as Daisy was of age.

However, they were surprised when Daisy, then 24, became engaged to the 37-year-old Dahan.

Ramil was direct with his sister, telling her they did not like Dahan, but Daisy, truly in love with her fiancé, proceeded with the relationship despite her family’s reservations.

After her fiancé visa was approved, Daisy left for the US. She and Dahan married in Las Vegas in 2011.

The Marriage Under Pressure

Because she arrived on a fiancé visa, Daisy could not immediately work, as she had to wait for her Green Card to be approved.

For several months, and nearly a year, Dahan was the sole provider, working as a chef at a Las Vegas strip resort.

Like many newlyweds, they went through a honeymoon phase, often seen happily eating out and traveling.

But the honeymoon was short-lived. While many believed Daisy was lucky to marry an American resident, they were unaware of Dahan’s complicated financial situation.

Dahan’s income as a chef was insufficient to cover all their expenses. The situation worsened when Daisy learned they needed to save more because Dahan had a child from a previous relationship.

This meant Dahan had to make monthly child support payments. With their tiny remaining income, the couple agreed to extreme budgeting to afford food and rent.

When Daisy finally obtained her Green Card, the hardworking Pinay quickly found a job as a nurse. Her income was a significant boost to their finances.

But the relief was temporary. Dahan’s frequent hospital visits, culminating in a kidney transplant, caused him to lose his job.

Daisy became the sole earner. The prosecutor revealed that Daisy was not only paying for food and rent but also covering Dahan’s child support to prevent him from being sued, as he struggled to find new employment.

The Fatal Threat

Unfortunately, simple arguments soon turned violent. Ramil reported that whenever his sister called, she would share that Dahan was showing his true colors, admitting he was abusing her.

Daisy revealed that the lack of money and Dahan’s inability to find work made him increasingly paranoid. He began to suspect that she would leave him for another man.

He constantly threatened her, warning that if she ever thought of divorce, he would kill her.

Ramil said there was little they could do from the Philippines, but he wished they could have gone to retrieve Daisy to prevent her death.

In court, it was revealed that despite the abuse, Daisy never sought official help. She did, however, confide in her colleague, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth advised her that if she felt her life was in danger, she should not hesitate to leave Dahan. Daisy followed the advice and briefly stayed in a separate apartment.

However, like many abuse victims, Dahan convinced her to return with promises of change. The promises were empty; the abuse and threats only worsened.

The Confession and Sentence

Realizing her abusive husband would never change, Daisy bravely consulted a divorce attorney. The attorney described Dahan as an abusive person.

Dahan’s camp tried to paint Daisy as the villain. In Dahan’s sworn statement, he admitted they had financial problems, attributing the conflict to his unemployment.

He claimed Daisy would always get angry when he talked to his children’s mother. He accused Daisy of kicking him and said she was to blame for his predicament.

Dahan’s defense tried to discredit the victim, labeling her a “gold digger” and a “user” who only married him to get to America.

He alleged that after he lost his job, Daisy belittled and disrespected him daily because they were poor. He admitted he didn’t care about the insults, but the repeated demands for divorce truly angered him.

In court, Dahan argued that divorce was unacceptable in Filipino culture. To him, marriage was sacred, and he saw his parents stay together despite problems.

He believed his marriage should be the same. Despite his pleas, Daisy insisted on divorce.

On January 10, 2014, Dahan confessed that after lunch, Daisy, who went to the kitchen, became angry again. She begged him to sign the divorce papers.

Dahan told the court he would not agree to a divorce, fearing his fellow Filipinos would ridicule him. So, instead of letting her go, he chose to murder her to prevent the separation.

Dahan admitted he grabbed a large knife from the dishwasher and attacked his wife. When she fought back, he grabbed two more knives.

Daisy sustained fatal wounds to her head, neck, lips, and cheeks, and was declared dead at the scene.

Shockingly, after killing Daisy, Dahan took a shower and drove to the police station, where he voluntarily confessed to killing his wife.

He chillingly told the detectives he would not change his decision, and if given the chance, he would do it again.

Dahan pleaded with the judge for a lighter sentence, arguing that he only committed the crime because of his belief that couples should never divorce.

His plea was ignored. Dahan was sentenced to two decades in prison, with an additional two to 12 years for using three knives in the crime.

His appeal was denied, as the Court of Appeals agreed with the first judge’s decision.

The case of Daisy Casalta remains a tragic story of dreams turned to dust and a crucial lesson on the extreme and fatal consequences of domestic abuse rooted in toxic male entitlement.