LAS VEGAS (AP) - A deputy district attorney in Las Vegas says the pretrial death of a woman whose hands were reattached following a machete attack won't stop the criminal prosecution of the woman's ex-boyfriend.

Prosecutor Elana Graham says evidence is strong that Armando Vergara-Martinez attacked Maria Del Carmen Gomez in what police say was a domestic violence case in March.

The 50-year-old Vergara-Martinez remains jailed in Las Vegas pending trial in October. He has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and other charges.

Gomez died Wednesday after being diagnosed with uterine cancer while she underwent rehabilitation for her arm wounds and other injuries. She was 53.

Rebeca Ferreira heads the Spanish community support group Safe Faith United.

She promised Thursday to create a domestic violence awareness campaign in Gomez's memory.

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