Man held in woman’s slaying denied bail

Jace Radke

Friday, Sept. 26, 2003 | 9:44 a.m.

A man charged with killing his ex-girlfriend outside a karaoke bar in August will be held without bail.

Vannasone Quanbengboune, 33, was ordered held for trial Thursday by Justice of the Peace James Bixler, who called Quanbengboune a "menace."

Quanbengboune is charged with the Aug. 7 murder of Raynna Bunyou, 38, outside of the Bangkok Boom restaurant at 3111 S. Valley View Blvd., near Desert Inn Road. They allegedly argued in the parking lot before Bunyou was shot and killed.

Quanbengboune is further charged with taking Bunyou's car from the scene and fleeing. He was arrested about a week later in Oklahoma City after a five-hour standoff with authorities.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens called four witnesses to the stand during Thursday's preliminary hearing. Metro Police homicide detective Jeff Rosgen testified that Quanbengboune admitted in an interview in the Oklahoma County jail that he killed Bunyou.

"He started off saying that he had killed her with a pistol," Rosgen said. "He said she had asked him to kill her because of her financial problems with gambling debts. He said she wanted him to kill her so her children could get the insurance money."

Another witness, Mary Myrno, testified that she knew Quanbengboune when he lived in Oregon about three years ago. She said she received a phone call from Quanbengboune, whom she knows as Sonny, about 4:05 a.m. on Aug. 7, about 20 minutes after he allegedly shot Bunyou.

"He just said, 'I did it.' ... I asked him what he did and he said, 'I shot her,' " Myrno said.

Rosgen testified that Quanbengboune gave a written confession to the FBI.

Quanbengboune is scheduled to appear before Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass on Oct. 2.