I recognize my mistake. Lesly Palacio - The 22-Year-Old Who Went Out With a "Family Friend" Brutally Murdered | An Injustice! Ashley Palacio, 12, sister of Lesly Palacio, breaks down while reading a statement during the sentencing hearing for Jose Rangel, who pleaded guilty to destroying evidence and accessory to. Palacio was reported missing and endangered by police at the beginning of that same month. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. Palacios body was found in Moapa Valley near Valley of Fire State Park in September, according to court records. Best life tip: Text your friends back! Rangel, 46, is charged with being an accessory to murder and destroying or concealing evidence in the death of Lesly Palacio, 22. He was arrested near the U.S.-Mexico border in February. Rangel appears on screen in court. Don't miss the big stories. Palacio's body was located in September 2020. Like us on Facebook. So, she and some family members decided to visit Erics home. We can help! Arrest warrants have been issued for Erick Rangel-Ibarra, 25, and his father, Jose Rangel. On the 29th of August, 2020, Lesley had gone out for drinks at the Las Vegas . But she was also strong, independent, and hard-working. Karely Palacio speaks on the memory of her late sister, Lesly, while her mother Aracely holds back tears, Tuesday Sept. 22, 2020. (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. The Clark County coroners office has not officially identified Palacio or released her cause and manner of death. Her remains were found Sept. 9 in the desert near the state park about 45 miles north of Las Vegas, police said.. She would force her mother out the kitchen when Aracely tried to cook dinner after long days that saw her clean upwards of 15 hotel rooms per shift. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt, Aracely Palacio speaks during a news conference about the arrest and sentencing of Jose Rangel, who was charged in relation to the 2020 murder of Lesly Palacio, daughter to Aracely, in Las Vegas on Monday, June 21, 2021. At the time of the incident, the 22-year-old was studying to be a nurse and was just months away from graduation. Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani said the Rangels had known Palacio for 14 years, and the father was inside the home when she was killed. They reached out to local hospitals and her friends. Finally, before the results of the toxicology test and cause of death can be made public, the family must be notified. Find Death Records and Vital Records related to St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner. 2023 Talk Murder To Me. And I understand that nothing that happens here today is going to replace what you lost.. Rangel said he did not expect to see Erick again that day, but he turned up at his daughters apartment in the afternoon and was making weird statements about killing himself and Jose and about other people coming to kill him and/or the family. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Eric and Jose had crossed the border to Mexico, and the case had just turned 100 times more complicated. And to this, Jose had no answers. Why? In my email I told her I was proud of her, she said. She wanted to make sure justice was served. The St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner, located in Fort Pierce, FL, keeps death records for individuals who passed away in Fort Pierce. That is the only option that I have. When the friend asked why, Rangel-Ibarra reportedly responded I killed a bitch. He also said that she was dead in the back seat of his truck. She was last seen by family when she went to get drinks with Rangel-Ibarra on the day she was killed. He also told them there were no signs of trauma or bruises on Lesly, and he assumed she had died of an overdose. Leslys family will never know how and why she died until they find Eric. Palacios remains were found Sept.9 in a desert area about 50 miles north of Las Vegas, about a week after Metro Police said they suspected foul play in her disappearance and announced that homicide detectives were investigating. Luckily, the house opposite Erics home had a CCTV camera pointing at the street, and the police learned everything. A man who left the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in September was sentenced Monday to between two and five years in prison. As a result, the autopsy report couldnt conclusively point out her cause of death. Leslys family is also doing everything they can to support the search. New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara was arraigned on Thursday along with three other men charged in connection with an alleged brawl at a Strip casino. Police said investigators along with Moapa tribal police and Red Rock Search and Rescue located her body near the Valley of Fire State Park in Moapa Valley. On the 9th of September 2020, 22-year-old Lesly Palacio's body was found neat in the Valley of Fire, In Moapa Valley. At the time of her disappearance, Lesly, a Basic High School graduate, was studying to be a phlebotomist. There were blood splatters on the floor and the mattress. She dreamed of getting married and starting a family after settling into a career, Garcia said. According to the detective, Rangel turned himself in at the San Ysidro (San Diego) border and allowed himself to be extradited to Clark County. The former Raiders player faces four felony charges in connection with a November 2021 car crash that killed a Las Vegas woman. The next detective to speak to the grand jury described the arrest of Ericks father, Jose Rangel. This is not the type of person just to go missing, Nayelli said. The case has garnered widespread attention, including from hundreds of people online who have flooded the family with encouraging notes like #justiceforLeslyPalacio. Her colleagues recall how calm and poised she always was. Little did she know that things were going to change quickly. The night before she went missing, Palacio had been texting her sister, Karely Palacio. 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. 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. In real life, toxicology test results take much longer. The police obtained a search warrant for the Rangel home and were greeted with tonnes of evidence. Official information hasnt been released on how they were connected to the killing or how Palacio died. (Elizabeth Page Brumley / Las Vegas Review-Journal), Family members and friends mourn victim Lesly Palacio, 22, during a vigil at her mother home in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. But until then, Lesly will have to wait for justice. Karely Palacio speaks on the memory of her late sister, Lesly, while her mother Aracely holds back tears, Tuesday Sept. 22, 2020. 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 . The 22-year-old had last been seen on video footage being carried out of a home on the east side on the 29th of August, 2020. The Las Vegas police then started looking for surveillance cameras in the neighborhood to gather information. (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. LAS VEGAS (KTNV) Jose Rangel, accused by Las Vegas police of helping his son hide the body of Lesly Palacio, pled not guilty in court Friday. 1. And assisting a murderer after he commits such an egregious crime should not be treated as a misdemeanor.. The Nevada Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Thursday over a rule change in Clark Countys Family Court that makes it easier to close hearings to the public. Detectives issued a search warrant on Ericks home, finding a small amount of blood spatter in Rangels bedroom.. The Rangels and the Palacios attended the same church and had known each other for decades. Palacio never showed up. His son, Eric Rangel-Ibarra, 25, remains on the run and is wanted for murder. Its not okay; certainly not fair. A friend of Rangels testified to the grand jury, telling them Rangel told him his family was not involved. But on Wednesday, 11 days after the 22-year-old Las Vegas woman was last seen at a casino, her family realized those dreams wouldnt come true. And since the Valley of Fire is extremely arid and hot, the decomposition rate was fast. The Las Vegas police department immediately started its investigation. Anything going on in her older sisters life, good or bad, Lesly was the first person she reached out to, Karely said. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Rangel faces a maximum of two years under the charges. A 22-year-old woman reported missing late last month was the victim of a homicide, said Metro Police, who Wednesday found her body and named a suspect. (Elizabeth Page Brumley / Las Vegas Review-Journal), Classmates and friends mourn victim Lesly Palacio, 22, during a vigil at her mother's home in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. About Us Contact Us 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. According to the detective, the body was in a state of decomposition and was only partially clothed. We were in a good place., Era una buena nia, she added. 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. Jose Rangel told detectives that. Mami, soon well be OK, you will see, Aracely Palacio remembers her daughter telling her. 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. They dreamed of opening a clothing boutique. Jose claimed that when the Mexican authorities started searching for them, they split up to make things difficult for the police. 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. Palacio was only 22-years-old when her life was ended. 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. He pled not guilty to the charges in March. Prosecutors say surveillance video shows Lesly Palacio and Erick Rangel-Ibarra walking into his house around 6 a.m. on Aug. 29. But the primary evidence was in Erics bedroom. Lesly was a beautiful girl with beautiful dreams. After all, Lesly had known him for decades. Lesly and Eric spent the night visiting casinos and bars, but Lesly kept her sister informed throughout. Some believe Eric was romantically interested in Lesly, but Lesly rejected his advances. She was loved, what more can we tell you? Garcia said. She promised to send updates regularly, so Karely could reach her if needed. Baker County Clerk of the Court. 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. The police believed Eric could have taken Leslys body either to the Nevada-Arizona border or towards Charleston Peak. Palacio was great with children and bonded with Garcias 5-year-old daughter. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). 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. The truck and driver return about 15 minutes later. It was Lesly Palacios contagious smile that friends and family will remember of her. He was taken into custody in January by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in San Diego. Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240. They were cordial and friendly but never had a deep connection. 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He said that Erik was freaking out and he decided to help his son get the body out of the house because he didnt want other members of the family to see it. But, when Eric asked her out that night, Lesly agreed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Shortly after the father is seen attempting to clean his sons driveway with a hose and water. I-Team: Months after murder, condition of Lesly Palacio's body leads coroner to list cause of death as undetermined He didnt put any effort into hiding her body. During an interview with the detective, Rangel initially said he learned about the case while he was in Mexico. Suggest Listing She didnt deserve to have her life taken from her.. I know from where the family is sitting, suffering a loss that youve suffered, two years doesnt seem like a sufficient punishment for losing your daughter and losing your sister, Jones said. They also requested the community to help them. (Elizabeth Page Brumley / Las Vegas Review-Journal), Sister of victim Lesly Palacio, Nayelli Palacio, 16, wipes her tears while she lights candles during a vigil at their mother's home, in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. He started giving them more information while minimizing his involvement. Now, Eric was no stranger to Lesly. She assumed Lesly was probably too drunk and had crashed at Erics place. 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. Eric had a cousin there who gave them some troubling news. In a Sept. 1 news release, Metro announced that Rangel-Ibarra and 45-year-old Jose Rangel were both missing and had last been seen Aug. 29, the same night Palacio disappeared. At Fridays hearing, Aracely Palacio wept as she said her daughter was studying to be a nurse and five months from graduating. Im very regretful, he said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Lesly Palacio had dreams of earning enough money to live in a large house and take care of her family. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt, Nayelli Palacio, sister of Lesly Palacio, reads a statement during the sentencing hearing for Jose Rangel, who pleaded guilty to destroying evidence and accessory to commit murder in the death of her sister, at the Regional Justice Center on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. Lesly Palacio, 22, vanished hours later. Rangel-Ibarra was seen driving away, prosecutors said. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt, Jose Rangel, who pleaded guilty to destroying evidence and accessory to commit murder in the death of 22-year-old Lesly Palacio, appears on screen for a sentencing hearing at the Regional Justice Center on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. Heart wrenching cries from her mother filled the family's backyard in Las Vegas Thursday night as dozens of people held candles, left flowers and release baloon in honor of 22-year-old Lesly Palacio. 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. Nathan Chasing Horse pleaded not guilty Wednesday to sexual assault charges and invoked his right to a speedy trial. Rangel told the police detective that he was in the garage when his son, Erick, came downstairs shirtless with Palacios body in a sheet. On any other occasion the red and orange Aztec sandstone formations, and the mountains of gray and tan limestone are utterly breathtaking. (Elizabeth Page Brumley / Las Vegas Review-Journal), Family members and friends mourn Lesly Palacio, 22, during a vigil at her mother's home in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. What could go wrong? Jose told the police that he saw Eric struggling to carry Leslys body and decided to help his son without asking questions. At this point, the grand jury is shown the videos taken at the Rangel residence. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Palacio family. The Clark County coroner's office says 22-year-old Lesly Palacio's cause of death is undetermined. The detective also described finding the womans pants nearby along with marks in the dirt that indicated she had been dragged. But with no word from her all morning, she grew nervous. The laboratory team and experts with years of experience and more than 20 thousand cases and expert reports, our Head of Forensic Toxicology, Dr Salah Breidi, and his team of toxicologists and reporting scientists, are experts in the field of toxicology, performing a range of different reporting services to our valued clients. Prosecutors submitted several dozen crime scene photos and a handful of surveillance videos into evidence in Rangels case. But her sisters said that was out of character for their sister, who was going to graduate from a phlebotomy program at Las Vegas College this year and who planned to start working in a cleaning business with her mother just two days after her disappearance. Erics mother filed a report that both Eric and his father, Jose Rangel, were missing. Palacios body was about a half-mile off a dirt road on September 9, 2020, court documents said. And when Lesly wasnt home, she was certain to check in to make sure her siblings had eaten. A day after Lesly Palacios body was found near Valley of Fire State Park, her family spoke about the 22-year-old who dreamed of getting married and starting a family after settling into a career. Giordani called on lawmakers to enhance the possible punishment for such crimes.