The illegal immigrant accused of murdering the mother of his son and another man will go to trial.

32 year-old Manuel Cazares faced the judge and a courtroom full of his victims' family members this afternoon during his preliminary hearing.

He is accused of stabbing Hannibal resident Amanda Thomas and her friend Carl Patrick Epley to death on February 28.

During today's witness testimony from two Hannibal detectives, Cazares told police he went inside Thomas' home around 6 in the morning on February 28 and saw Thomas in bed with Epley.

That's when he checked the house for Thomas' children.

When he discovered they weren't at home he went to the kitchen, got a kitchen knife.

Then he admitted to police he went to the bedroom and stabbed Epley first and then Thomas.

A detective said Epley was stabbed seven times; Thomas was stabbed 3 times.