Rangel-Ibarra is wanted on charges of murder and destroying evidence. Prosecutors said Thursday that they would consider the death penalty for a man accused in two killings within nine hours of each other. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. Rangel told the detective that his son indicated that he and Lesly had drank a lot before she died and that she may have overdosed on narcotics. She needed to talk to her about something.. Everyone Lesly met liked her, and she liked everyone, Aracely Palacio said. That betrayed me. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, How to get 13 Action News on your Alexa devices. As of Thursday afternoon, it had raised more than $7,000. The transcript begins with Palacios sister describing the events of the night she had last contact with her sister. Now, Leslys family was devastated beyond imagination. Published Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | 4:16 p.m. But what puzzled the police was why Erics father was missing. Rangel, 46, was taken into custody in connection with the case and charged with accessory to murder and destruction or concealing of evidence. Karely remembered seeing a text bubble, believing Lesly was typing something. 22-year-old disappeared last August, body found 2 weeks later. But Lesly and Eric werent friends. Chat Now. On this morning, it was chicken and bell peppers. According to the detective, the body was in a state of decomposition and was only partially clothed. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in March, triggering a jury trial thats set to begin on June 7, Clark County District Court records show. Nathan Chasing Horse pleaded not guilty Wednesday to sexual assault charges and invoked his right to a speedy trial. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I-Team: Months after murder, condition of Lesly Palacio's body leads coroner to list cause of death as undetermined "Some of the tests take days, weeks . Family members of of Lesly Palacio are trying to increase the reward money in an effort to find the people responsible for hermurder. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) It's been nearly nine months since she was murdered, and the Clark County Coroner's Office says it can't determine what killed 22-year-old Lesly Palacio last summer. St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner, get driving directions from your location, Indian River County Medical Examiner & Coroner, Okeechobee County Medical Examiner & Coroner, St. Lucie Clerk of The Circuit Court's Office County Records, St. Lucie Clerk of The Circuit Court's Office Marriage Applications, St. Lucie County Clerk of The Circuit Court Website, St. Lucie County Death Certificates & Records, St. Lucie County Department of Health Vital Records, St. Lucie County Marriage Certificates & Records. She seemed pretty intoxicated, but Eric was okay. While they looked into the tips they received from the public, the police located Erics truck 250 miles away in Californias Moreno Valley. He didnt put any effort into hiding her body. (She was a good girl.). According to the detective,. They also requested the community to help them. Then, at 7:25 am, Eric and his father, Jose, carried out Leslys body wrapped in a bedsheet. By her side was Erick Rangel-Ibarra, a 25-year-old friend. Video shows a man, who prosecutors identify as Rangel-Ibarra, helping a woman, identified as Palacio, get out of a truck parked in front of his home on Tipper Avenue on the east side, court documents said. Clark County prosecutors have said surveillance video showed Rangel-Ibarra and his father loading Palacios remains into a pickup truck at their home. She was my best friend we liked the same stuff, Karely said. It was very fun, I can poke people now, she would say to Kaly. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt, Loved ones of Lesly Palacio attend a sentencing hearing for Jose Rangel, who pleaded guilty to destroying evidence and accessory to commit murder in the death of the 22-year-old, at the Regional Justice Center on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS (KTNV) In addition to the newly-released video related to the Lesly Palacio case, 13 Action News also obtained a grand jury transcript. The FBI got involved, and the search for Eric and Jose continued for months. Added media coverage of the slaying has mostly focused on the alleged killer and the familys indescribable pain. Authorities have identified the main suspect in the alleged kidnapping and killing of 22-year-old Lesly Palacio, who was found deceased by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigators, the department said in an updated statement.Moapa Tribal Police and Red Rock Search & Rescue crews also assisted . I was so on the edge I didnt know what to do. She also described going to the Rangels home a couple of days later and observing Rangel's mother and sisters loading a truck with furniture while wearing rubber gloves. What could go wrong? Investigators also shared photos of gloves and cleaning supplies in the home. Prosecutors say surveillance video shows Lesly Palacio and Erick Rangel-Ibarra walking into his house around 6 a.m. on Aug. 29. District Judge Michelle Leavitt set another hearing for March 9 to appoint him a standby attorney through the Clark County public defenders office. Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox! The night before she went missing, Palacio had been texting her sister, Karely Palacio. The NFL says in a brief that the former Raiders coach agreed to arbitrate disputes when he signed his 10-year, $100 million contract with the team. Rangel told the police detective that he was in the garage when his son, Erick, came downstairs shirtless with Palacios body in a sheet. They even tried to contact Eric, but they got no leads. Palacio was reported missing after a night out with Rangel-Ibarra in late August. A few minutes later, the video shows the truck leaving, and a man, whom prosecutors identified as Rangel, hosing off the walkway. We can help! A family friend on Wednesday set up a GoFundMe account, which Palacios family said is going to be used toward funeral expenses. Lesly Palacio - The 22-Year-Old Who Went Out With a "Family Friend" Brutally Murdered | An Injustice! Copyright 2019 Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service, Aracely Palacio, mother of Lesly Palacio, cries during the sentencing hearing for Jose Rangel, who pleaded guilty to destroying evidence and accessory to commit murder in the death of her 22-year-old daughter, at the Regional Justice Center on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. The male with the clothing consistent to Ericks is out the passenger door, front passenger door of his truck, and it appeared to me to be dragging a body out, the detective describes to the court. They also work with St. Lucie County police and sheriff's offices to investigate suspicious or violent deaths. Erics mother filed a report that both Eric and his father, Jose Rangel, were missing. By continuing to browse or by clicking I Accept Cookies you agree to the storing of first-party and third-party cookies on your device and consent to the disclosure of your personal information to our third party service providers or advertising partners to optimize your experience, analyze traffic and personalize content. Palacio was great with children and bonded with Garcias 5-year-old daughter. Why? Little did she know that things were going to change quickly. Lesly, before leaving, told her sister, Karely, about her plans. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, How to get 13 Action News on your Alexa devices, Man in connection to death of local woman indicted by grand jury, Family of Lesly Palacio pleads for suspect to turn himself in, Family of Lesly Palacio reacts to arrest in the case of her murder. Now, Ashley said, all her family wants is justice. An arrest warrant on counts of murder and destroying evidence issued for a longtime acquaintance of Palacios family, Erick Michel Rangel-Ibarra, 22, remained active Wednesday, according to Clark County District Court records. By continuing to browse or by clicking I Accept Cookies you agree to the storing of first-party and third-party cookies on your device and consent to the disclosure of your personal information to our third party service providers or advertising partners to optimize your experience, analyze traffic and personalize content. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto, Family members and other people hold pictures of Lesly Palacio, who was found slain near Valley of Fire State Park, as they gather in her memory at the Longhorn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. Her dreams were coming to fruition. However the investigation is still very active, Spencer said in a text message Thursday. And around the same time, she received a message on Instagram. (Elizabeth Page Brumley / Las Vegas Review-Journal), Mother of victim Lesly Palacio, Aracely Palacio, mourns her daughter during a vigil, at their home in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. Palacios new white car sat in front of their house on Thursday, with flyers taped to the back windshield. The judge also addressed Palacios family, and Jose Rangel directly, saying he deserved nothing less than the maximum punishment. Yes, that second male in white was assisting the other male drag the body out and place it in the front passenger compartment.. She didnt say goodbye, said Aracely Palacio in Spanish, overwhelmed by tears Tuesday at the familys southeast Las Vegas home. The Palacios immediately knew something was wrong. He did not believe his wife or anybody else in the house had any part of a cleanup inside the residence.. Crime scene photos from inside the home show a stripped bed and some blood splatter, though investigators have yet to determine the source of the blood, documents said. Aracely Palacio, mother of Lesly Palacio, speaks at a news conference during a fundraiser on East Lake Mead Boulevard Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. The camera also caught his car heading back 20 minutes later. And to this, Jose had no answers. The list consists of members of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) who expressed an interest in performing autopsies on a fee-for- service basis. But she was also strong, independent, and hard-working. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Evidence presented to a grand jury last month shows Erick Rangel-Ibarra, 25, and Jose Rangel, 46, moving the body of Lesly Palacio, 22, in August, prosecutors allege, according to documents obtained by the I-Team. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told KLAS-TV on Wednesday that detectives believe the suspects fled to the U.S.-Mexico border, and suggested that federal agencies were helping track them down. At Fridays hearing, Aracely Palacio wept as she said her daughter was studying to be a nurse and five months from graduating. Rangel admitted to helping his son, Erick Rangel-Ibarra, 25, drag Palacios body out of their Las Vegas home and flee to Mexico, according to court records. Arrest warrants have been issued for Erick Rangel-Ibarra, 25, and his father, Jose Rangel. At 7:26 a.m., 2 men are observed on the video dragging a body out of the home and loading it into the truck. Police said investigators. But whats more tragic is knowing her dreams. Jose claimed that when the Mexican authorities started searching for them, they split up to make things difficult for the police. Growing up with four sisters, Lesly had a fun-filled life. The next witness, a man who claimed to be Rangel-Ibarra's friend, told the grand jury that Rangel-Ibarra had called him and asked him to bring a can of gasoline. Jose initially told the police that Eric was depressed for some reason. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt, Defense attorney Thomas Boley appears on screen at the sentencing hearing for his client, Jose Rangel, who pleaded guilty to destroying evidence and accessory to commit murder in the death of 22-year-old Lesly Palacio, at the Regional Justice Center on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. Aracely Palacio remembers the late-August meal vividly, and not only because of the cherished mother-daughter time. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Palacio was last seen alive on August 29, 2020. Though her cause and manner of death had not been determined, Rangel-Ibarra faces a murder charge. Less than two weeks later, Lesly Palacio's decomposed body was found in Moapa Valley near Valley of Fire State Park. Prosecutors submitted several dozen crime scene photos and a handful of surveillance videos into evidence in Rangels case. The police began searching for Eric and Jose while also searching for Leslys body. The police believed Eric could have taken Leslys body either to the Nevada-Arizona border or towards Charleston Peak. Sometimes, as if shes forgotten about her sisters death, Kaly says she walks into Leslys room, hoping to see her. Now, it cant be a coincidence that Eric and Lesly were missing simultaneously. And despite him constantly nagging her, Lesly remained polite and considerate of his feelings. Their strong will and proactiveness urged people to do their best. Her body was found near the Valley of Fire two weeks later. While this inference was already a good start, the search area was still massive. Dude, I got to talk to you about ***** (name not released). Jose said that is when he decided to leave the country with his son. Eric and Jose had crossed the border to Mexico, and the case had just turned 100 times more complicated. But a moment later, it disappeared, and she never heard from her again. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal), A photograph of Lesly Palacio is seen during Palacio's vigil at her mother's home, in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. Palacios body was found in the desert outside of the Valley of Fire State Park, and police have yet to find the suspect, whom family members said is a family friend. Others remember their time with her in the Medical Assistant program, hoping one day to be a crime scene investigator, excelling in her studies, always happy, always upbeat, and of course, always smiling. Everything was so good between us. The father of a man wanted in connection with the slaying of Lesly Palacio was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for helping hide her body. This is not the type of person just to go missing, Nayelli said. Advisors are waiting for your call: 855-466-7204*. All rights reserved. 339 East Macclenny Ave., Macclenny, Fl 32063. She assumed Lesly was probably too drunk and had crashed at Erics place. The father of a man wanted in connection with the slaying of a 22-year-old Las Vegas woman was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for helping hide her body. Updated Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | 5:51 p.m. More than eight months after Lesly Palacios body was recovered near Valley of Fire State Park, the Clark County Coroners Office announced it could not determine the cause or manner of death. My life has not been the same. Palacios youngest sister, Ashley, speaking in both Spanish and English, said her sister was always there for her and constantly making her meals. However, he then began to describe what happened the day Palacio disappeared. This family was a longtime friend of theirs and betrayed them by kidnapping Lesly and then taking the life of Lesly Palacio after her story went viral across the world. Shortly after the father is seen attempting to clean his sons driveway with a hose and water. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555. That is the only option that I have. No one knows what made Jose turn himself in, but the police knew they could get at least some well-deserved answers. An hour later, the same camera from a home down the street captures two men, whom prosecutors identified as Rangel-Ibarra and Rangel, dragging a body from the home and into the same truck. The St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner, located in Fort Pierce, FL, keeps death records for individuals who passed away in Fort Pierce. After the truck drives away, one of the men who was later identified as Jose Rangel begins spraying water on a patch of rocks and grass near the driveway. They were cordial and friendly but never had a deep connection. Within two weeks of Palacios disappearance, police identified Rangel-Ibarra as a suspect in her killing. Metro Police have said they believe Rangel-Ibarra and his father fled to Mexico. Find Death Records and Vital Records related to St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner. She needed to "talk to her about something." Caught On Camera It was just after midnight when Lesly Palacio was seen by a camera walking into the Las Vegas Longhorn Hotel and Casino. Eric had a cousin there who gave them some troubling news. Rangel denied that his wife or daughters knew anything about what happened or had any involvement in any way. View map of St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner, and get driving directions from your location. Copyright 2019 Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service, Aracely Palacio, center, mourns the death of her daughter Lesly Palacio, as sister Karely Palacio, 25, holds a candle during a vigil at their home in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. She didnt deserve to have her life taken from her.. As a result, the autopsy report couldnt conclusively point out her cause of death. Karely Palacio speaks on the memory of her late sister, Lesly, while her mother Aracely holds back tears, Tuesday Sept. 22, 2020. Many believe Joses trial was one-sided. Lesly Palacio would frequently cook impromptu recipes with her mother. His son, Erick Rangel-Ibarra, is on the run and. No information has been released about the timeline after the truck left the Rangel home. If you prefer, you may e-mail your request to: naplesme@d20me.net. So, she and some family members decided to visit Erics home. Rangel faces a maximum of two years under the charges. https://t.co/J1EaXP55rK pic.twitter.com/Fb1qZp5oHK. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Palacio family. She was last seen by family when she went to get drinks with Rangel-Ibarra on the day she was killed. Also, Las Vegas had just opened up after the first coronavirus outbreak, and she wanted to visit some casinos. On Thursday night, an estimated 200 people gathered in the familys backyard for a vigil honoring Palacio. Contact David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. View map of St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner, and get driving directions from your location. A long-ago traveler once stated how the red-orangish sandstone looked like fire. The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld a ban preventing insurers from using credit score declines against those who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her younger sister, Nayelli Palacio, expressed frustration with the punishment for Jose Rangels charges. This was about three-four hours after the murder. Get rest, Lesly would tenderly tell her mother. But from where the court is sitting, my hands are tied. In an interview hours before a vigil for Palacio on Thursday night, family members said they believe that 25-year-old Erick Rangel-Ibarra, whom the Metropolitan Police Department has named as a suspect in Palacios death, is the reason shes gone. Next, the lead police detective told the grand jury how they made the connection between the victim and Erick Rangel-Ibarra and his father Jose Rangel, who has also been arrested. His son, Eric Rangel-Ibarra, 25, remains on the run and is wanted for murder. Follow @k_newberg on Twitter. He also told them there were no signs of trauma or bruises on Lesly, and he assumed she had died of an overdose. Las Vegas police officers found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds around 2 a.m. in the 4000 block of West Viking Road. The Clark County coroners office has not officially identified Palacio or released her cause and manner of death. So, Lesly messaged a couple of her friends, who were all either busy or uninterested. It was the LMMPD investigators along with Moapa Tribal Police and Red Rock Search & Rescue who discovered Palacios body dumped in the Valley of Fire State Park. Contact: shenbawrites@gmail.com. Lesly Palacio had dreams of earning enough money to live in a large house and take care of her family. Her colleagues recall how calm and poised she always was. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto, Wahlbergs $14.5M bungalow leads 2022 new home luxury, Convicted Las Vegas killer overdosed on meth, coroner rules, Raiders leave Indianapolis with more clarity on draft plans, 3 women linked to robbery before police shooting, More time allowed to present death penalty case in officers slaying, Suspect in police officers killing pleads not guilty, Las Vegas man receives life sentence for killing 13-year-old son, Woman sentenced after daughter died in hot, locked bedroom, Man sentenced to life in prison for 2016 shooting that killed Valley teen, Alvin Kamara, 3 others plead not guilty to battery charges. The police realized that Eric and Jose werent missing, but they were on the run. 2023 Talk Murder To Me. She wanted to become an investigator and take care of her community. It is not fair that Jose only has to do two years. Last month, a grand jury indicted him on charges of being an accessory to murder and destroying or concealing evidence. Palacios body was found in Moapa Valley near Valley of Fire State Park in September, according to court records. They tracked her movements from Longhorn Casino to Putters Bar and Grill at 2:15 am and Bourbon Street Bar at 5:50 am. The detective also described finding the womans pants nearby along with marks in the dirt that indicated she had been dragged. Homicide Lt. Ray Spencer said Thursday that Jose Rangel is Rangel-Ibarras father but that the older man was not a suspect in Palacios death. And assisting a murderer after he commits such an egregious crime should not be treated as a misdemeanor.. Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240. Luckily, the house opposite Erics home had a CCTV camera pointing at the street, and the police learned everything. Finally, before the results of the toxicology test and cause of death can be made public, the family must be notified. They put her in the back of the truck, and Eric drove away. His father, Jose Rangel, was also initially suspected of helping his son escape to Mexico. Lesly Palacios family pleaded for a harsher sentence, but the punishment handed down by Judge Tierra Jones was the maximum allowed under the law. She was described as a loving daughter and a sister who was always eager to help. She told the grand jury about the last message from her sister via text and how she didnt come home after going out with Erick Rangel-Ibarra. Autopsy Reports, Coroner Reports, Toxicology Reports Map of St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner. Perhaps one of the more disturbing details with the Lesly Palacio case is the two other people involved. However, being a technician wasnt enough for Lesly. If they fought, Lesly had a way of making it easy to forget what the argument was about, even minutes later. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Three of Palacios four sisters Nayelli, Ashley and 25-year-old Karely Palacio all said on Thursday that they dont know what could have happened between Rangel-Ibarra and their sister, although they said they believe he is the person police should arrest. And yet, here we are, reading about shes still waiting for justice. As night fell Tuesday, a group of people arrived to light candles. Erick Michel Rangel-Ibarra, 25, is wanted on a murder warrant, and his father, 45-year-old Jose Rangel, is sought for allegedly concealing the crime. Shenbaga Lakshmi 1.2K Followers Software engineer chasing cultural stories. They are longtime acquaintances of the family. The father, Jose Rangel, is facing counts of accessory to murder and destroying evidence in the case, according to court records. The surveillance camera captured Erics car pulling off the highway towards the Valley of Fire National Park. WARNING: Some of these details may be disturbing to readers. Palacios body was found near the Valley of Fire on Sept. 9, 2020. The coroner has not released her cause of death. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. Video shows men removing body from home, prosecutors say. Prosecutors say video from 90 minutes later shows Rangel-Ibarra and his father, Jose Rangel, dragging her body from the house. Nayelli said that since learning of Palacios death, she and her sisters have circled from bouts of crying to sharing funny stories. And only 90 minutes later, according to Grand Jury transcripts, both father and son drag out Leslys corpse before placing her in the front passenger compartment. An arrest has been made in connection to the disappearance and death of 22-year-old Lesly Palacio. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. It was just after midnight when Lesly Palacio was seen by a camera walking into the Las Vegas Longhorn Hotel and Casino. The Clark County coroner's office has not officially identified Palacio or released her cause and manner of death. She was really kind really, really kind, she said. Her death left a sadness and emptiness, the mother said. She was noble and liked cooking meals for her family, always experimenting. Anything going on in her older sisters life, good or bad, Lesly was the first person she reached out to, Karely said. Lesly assured her mother, who was furloughed because of the coronavirus pandemic, that she would help her work the cleaning business in her time off. Lesly was a beautiful girl with beautiful dreams. He stated that afternoon, well, that morning, Erick leaves with the body, and Jose believed he was going to Utah to destroy the body is what he was told, the friend told the court. Exact details of how Lesly died are still not available, but thanks to a nearby neighbors home security footage, we have an exact view of what happened after Lesly passed. After walking the grand jury through the videos, the police detective begins describing the discovery of Palacio's body on Sept. 9, 2020, in the Valley of Fire park.