Destiny Jackson, a 24-year-old Black / African American woman, had her life tragically cut short in September 2021. Her body was discovered by a hiker on September 11, 2021, in a desert area south of Las Vegas, near Sloan. Investigators at the scene immediately suspected foul play, and their suspicions were confirmed when the Clark County coroner's office ruled her death a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds to her head and torso.
Her family had reported her missing a day earlier after she failed to pick up her boyfriend and was not responding to calls or texts. She was last seen on September 9th, and had posted on her Instagram story that evening.
The investigation into Destiny's death quickly led law enforcement to a suspect. Investigators learned that her car, a silver BMW 328i, was missing. The vehicle was located in Torrance, California, on September 17th. The following day, police in Torrance spotted the car and a chase ensued. The driver, Albertt Monterio, who was 21 at the time, lost control of the vehicle, crashed into several other cars, and attempted to flee on foot before being apprehended. Inside the car, police found two guns, a gun case, a cracked phone, and blood splatter.
During questioning, Monterio confessed to killing Destiny. He told investigators that he had been living in Las Vegas and wanted to return to his home in California but did not have a vehicle. He responded to a personal ad that Destiny had posted online with the intention of robbing her to steal her car. According to his account, after she picked him up, he directed her to a desert area. He claimed that as she sat in the driver's seat, he told her, "I'm sorry," and then shot her three times. He then pushed her body out of the car and drove away.
Albertt Monterio was extradited to Nevada and faced charges of open murder and robbery with the use of a deadly weapon. In a courtroom filled with Destiny's grieving family, many of whom wore shirts bearing her image and calling for justice, Monterio pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving 26 years. Destiny's family spoke of their immense pain and loss, remembering her as a beautiful person with a kind soul who was a straight-A student and deeply involved in her church before moving to Las Vegas.
