(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. I understand their pain, and it hurts me, it hurts my heart, understanding that I failed as a father, that two beautiful families were destroyed. Her colleagues recall how calm and poised she always was. Palacio's body was located in September 2020. Her remains were found Sept. 9 in the desert near the state park about 45 miles north of Las Vegas, police said.. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The trial for the father accused of helping his son move a young woman's body before going on the run last summer will begin in June. Lesly Palacios body was found in the desert near Valley of Fire State Park back on Sept. 9, 2020 after going missing for nearly 12days. A long-ago traveler once stated how the red-orangish sandstone looked like fire. If you knew Lesly, you would know she didnt deserve this. But Lesly and Eric werent friends. But with no word from her all morning, she grew nervous. The Palacios also have a GoFundMe page where you can donate and support their initiative. (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. Besides that, Lesly also harbored dreams of becoming a crime scene investigator. They kidnapped Lesly Palacio on August 28, 2020. She was my right arm, always helping me with everything. She helped her mother start her own cleaning business, which just landed its first contract. Last week, however, sitting around the wooden dining room table where Lesly used to have long talks with her mother and sisters, the family much rather preferred to talk about how Lesly Palacio lived her life, not how it was cut too short, or the way she was stripped away from them. Rangel-Ibarra glances back at his truck while pressing the automatic lock button and Lesly fishes for her mask before entering the casino and restaurant. So, Lesly messaged a couple of her friends, who were all either busy or uninterested. Palacio was great with children and bonded with Garcias 5-year-old daughter. She promised to send updates regularly, so Karely could reach her if needed. The Coroner and Medical Examiner determines a deceased person's time and cause of death, often in the case of sudden or unexpected deaths. And they took that from her, added Blanca Garcia, Palacios cousin. Her death left a sadness and emptiness, the mother said. The 22-year-old was last seen on video being carried out of a home on the east side on Aug. 29. A few minutes later, the video shows the truck leaving, and a man, whom prosecutors identified as Rangel, hosing off the walkway. (Elizabeth Page Brumley / Las Vegas Review-Journal), A vigil is held for Lesly Palacio's mother's home in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. 4x Top Writer. I have to impose a punishment that is allowable under the law, as it stands today. Metro Police have said they believe Rangel-Ibarra and his father fled to Mexico. 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. Garcia said they want to have a large, beautiful celebration with lots of flowers and live music that Palacio loved Mexican banda songs, hip-hop and R&B. 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. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt, Judge Tierra Jones presides over the sentencing hearing for 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. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts may contact Las Vegas police at 702-828-3521 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555. Rangel faces a maximum of two years under the charges. The final toxicology report may incorporate other information, such as field evidence at the scene of the crime, or the possibility of fatal drug interactions, to determine the cause of death. Related Public Records Searches. Lesly Palacio. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! Palacio was only 22-years-old when her life was ended. The Clark County coroner's office has not officially identified Palacio or released her cause and manner of death. And assisting a murderer after he commits such an egregious crime should not be treated as a misdemeanor.. The sisters started calling around, inquiring about Leslys whereabouts. Vas a ver que todo va a estar bien. That translates to, Everything will be OK, youll see that everything will be OK.. RELATED: Father of man wanted for murder of Lesly Palacio arrested. Don't miss the big stories. But a moment later, it disappeared, and she never heard from her again. The police found Lesly, but they still hadnt located her killers. 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. Rangel, 46, is charged with being an accessory to murder and destroying or concealing evidence in the death of Lesly Palacio, 22. 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Lesly Palacio - The 22-Year-Old Who Went Out With a "Family Friend" Brutally Murdered | An Injustice! According to court transcripts and video footage, prosecutors believe Rangel-Ibarra returned to his home with Palacio around 6 a.m. after a night of drinking. After all, Lesly had known him for decades. If the requesting party is not a family member or a private citizen, the request should be written on your company's letterhead. Less than two weeks later, Lesly Palacio's decomposed body was found in Moapa Valley near Valley of Fire State Park. He asked for a speedy trial. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555. She had finished her lab technician program which she wanted to celebrate. An arrest has been made in connection to the disappearance and death of 22-year-old Lesly Palacio. 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. He also told them there were no signs of trauma or bruises on Lesly, and he assumed she had died of an overdose. That, unfortunately, was the last time mother and daughter conversed. No one knows what made Jose turn himself in, but the police knew they could get at least some well-deserved answers. Authorities have not revealed how she died. (Elizabeth Page Brumley / Las Vegas Review-Journal), Mother of murder victim Lesly Palacio, Aracely Palacio, right, is comforted during a vigil for her daughter, at their home in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. The teacher said she had emailed Palacio to schedule her final graduation meeting for Tuesday. He pled not guilty to the charges in March. And what they saw there shocked them. 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. He did not believe his wife or anybody else in the house had any part of a cleanup inside the residence.. In March, Rangel pleaded not guilty and was held on $100,000 bond. Through childhood into adulthood, they became confidantes. County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. The Las Vegas police department immediately started its investigation. Don't miss the big stories. That random message was the last message Karely ever received from her sister. On the 9th of September 2020, 22-year-old Lesly Palacio's body was found neat in the Valley of Fire, In Moapa Valley. 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. I try to appear strong, but Im not OK. I recognize my mistake. The FBI got involved, and the search for Eric and Jose continued for months. There were blood splatters on the floor and the mattress. View map of St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner, and get driving directions from your location. All rights reserved. (Elizabeth Page Brumley / Las Vegas Review-Journal), Lesly Palacio (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department), Family members and friends mourn Lesly Palacio, 22, during a 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. Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for St Lucie County Medical Examiner & Coroner, a Coroner & Medical Examiner, at South 35th Street, Fort Pierce FL. Prosecutors said Thursday that they would consider the death penalty for a man accused in two killings within nine hours of each other. Her younger sister, Nayelli Palacio, expressed frustration with the punishment for Jose Rangels charges. But she was also strong, independent, and hard-working. She was noble and liked cooking meals for her family, always experimenting. The night before she went missing, Palacio had been texting her sister, Karely Palacio. Rangel-Ibarra is believed to be hiding in Mexico while Rangel is facing a current trial date set for June 7. The transcript concludes with the interview of another homicide detective who describes how he gathered evidence related to the case from the Rangel residence. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt, 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 commit murder in the death of her sister, at the Regional Justice Center on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. Add a Memory On Thursday night, an estimated 200 people gathered in the familys backyard for a vigil honoring Palacio. She was described as a loving daughter and a sister who was always eager to help. And since these things take time, the Palacios worked on creating awareness. She seemed pretty intoxicated, but Eric was okay. Lesly was partially clothed, and her muddy jeans indicate that her body was dragged to that location. The Nevada Legislature needs to do something about this, because dumping a young girls body and treating her like a piece of trash should not be treated as a misdemeanor, Giordani said. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. RELATED: Las Vegas police locate body of missing 22-year-old Lesly Palacio. Family members of of Lesly Palacio are trying to increase the reward money in an effort to find the people responsible for hermurder. Combat veteran operated, Video shows last known appearance of Lesly Palacio at Longhorn Casino, Valley of Fire State Park rich with beauty, history and adventure, Man in custody in August death of Lesly Palacio; son still at large as murder indictment handed down, Video evidence appears to show Lesly Palacios body being dragged by accused killers, according to grand jury transcripts. Everything was so good between us. Rangel, 46, was taken into custody in connection with the case and charged with accessory to murder and destruction or concealing of evidence. 22-year-old disappeared last August, body found 2 weeks later. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Now, Eric was no stranger to Lesly. Now, the police had a lot of questions, but the most important one was about Erics whereabouts. Las Vegas Sun, 2023, All Rights Reserved, Devastated Las Vegas family looks for justice 6 months after daughters slaying, Father of man suspected of killing Las Vegas woman is in custody, Missing Lesly: Family struggles to cope with death of beloved daughter, Vegas Vipers Home Opener Against DCDefenders, Durango Beats Liberty, 57-47, in Boys 5A BasketballChampionship. Lesly loved experimenting with her hair color, and Aracely remembers the girls getting ready together, blasting music and dancing in front of a mirror. But from where the court is sitting, my hands are tied. According to court transcripts and video footage, prosecutors believe Rangel-Ibarra returned to his home with Palacio around 6 a.m. the morning of Aug. 29 after a night of drinking. The case has garnered widespread attention, including from hundreds of people online who have flooded the family with encouraging notes like #justiceforLeslyPalacio. 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. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt, Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani listens to family members of Lesly Palacio give statements during the 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. surveillance video showed the two men placing Palacios body into a pickup truck, Jon Gruden still must use arbitration, NFL argues, Supreme Court weighs arguments challenging closure of Family Court hearings, Suspect in 2 Las Vegas killings could face death penalty, Alleged cult leader pleads not guilty to sex assault charges, Judge allows Robert Telles to represent himself in murder case, Henry Ruggs gets new preliminary hearing date in fatal DUI case, Driver in deadly hit-and-run sentenced to prison, Temporary credit score ban upheld by Nevada Supreme Court. 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. Missing since Aug. 29 According to her family, the 25-year-old went to get. She was loved, what more can we tell you? Garcia said. Rangel who pleaded guilty to destroying evidence and accessory to commit murder in the death of 22-year-old Lesly Palacio. Rangel told the police detective that he was in the garage when his son, Erick, came downstairs shirtless with Palacios body in a sheet. The coroner has not released her cause of death. 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. Palacio was reported missing after a night out with Rangel-Ibarra in late August. The office identifies bodies, notifies the next of kin, and returns personal belongings to the family. The detective described the numerous surveillance videos that showed Erick and Lesly drinking heavily throughout the night of her disappearance. And since the Valley of Fire is extremely arid and hot, the decomposition rate was fast. Sakoya James, 39, faces charges of open murder and conspiring to commit murder. Growing up with four sisters, Lesly had a fun-filled life. Sitting with about two dozen people in a courtroom gallery, her younger sister, Nayelli Palacio, expressed frustration with the punishment for Jose Rangels charges. Interested in fitness, Lesly would take her sisters to the gym or on hikes. The police began searching for Eric and Jose while also searching for Leslys body. 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. Shortly after the father is seen attempting to clean his sons driveway with a hose and water. But the primary evidence was in Erics bedroom. He was quickly brought back to Nevada and was charged with accessory to murder and destruction of evidence. We were in a good place., Era una buena nia, she added. That is the only option that I have. For someone dumping a dead body, the parks 40,000 acres provides ample opportunities. But, when Eric asked her out that night, Lesly agreed. (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. Jose said that is when he decided to leave the country with his son. 4x Top Writer. The name stuck. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. The next detective to speak to the grand jury described the arrest of Ericks father, Jose Rangel. 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. Erics mother filed a report that both Eric and his father, Jose Rangel, were missing. As night fell Tuesday, a group of people arrived to light candles. Lesly Palacio seemed to be even more giddy than usual. (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. And I understand that nothing that happens here today is going to replace what you lost.. At home, particularly because of the pandemic, they would work out in the backyard, where she even taught her mother different exercise routines. It hurts that someone can do this to my sister and only get two years, she 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. 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. Rangel appears on screen in court. Pictures and candles were laid out in the familys living room on Thursday, showing Palacio as a smiling 15-year-old in a bright-pink quinceanera dress. 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. 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. Palacio was last seen alive on August 29, 2020. She told her where she was going, who she was going out with, and what she planned to do. She assumed Lesly was probably too drunk and had crashed at Erics place. I need Lesly to keep fighting, but I still have my daughters to fight for, a sobbing Aracely Palacio said. Then, at 7:25 am, Eric and his father, Jose, carried out Leslys body wrapped in a bedsheet. She was the joy of the family, she said Thursday night. Official information hasnt been released on how they were connected to the killing or how Palacio died. Robert Telles, the former Clark County public administrator accused of killing a Review-Journal reporter, is selling five rental properties in Arkansas. A man who left the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in September was sentenced Monday to between two and five years in prison. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. 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. 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. However the investigation is still very active, Spencer said in a text message Thursday. About Us Contact Us Eric had a cousin there who gave them some troubling news. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Lesly frequently worried about her familys well-being, urging her mother to quit her demanding job as a housekeeper and plotting for her younger sisters to attend college. Lesly, before leaving, told her sister, Karely, about her plans. Finally, before the results of the toxicology test and cause of death can be made public, the family must be notified. While Garcia said she feared the worst as the days passed, others were optimistic Palacio would be found. Erick Rangel-Ibarra, 25, was identified as the suspect in Palacios death. The Crime Description. (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. At 10 am on August 29, 2020, the day Lesly was killed, a license plate reader identified Erics vehicle six miles from his house. Fee-for-Service Autopsy List cap.org 1 Fee-for-Service Autopsy List This list is offered as a service to members of the public seeking a pathologist to perform an autopsy. A warrant. He acted super strange and left the house soon. Luckily, the house opposite Erics home had a CCTV camera pointing at the street, and the police learned everything. Contact: shenbawrites@gmail.com. Shenbaga Lakshmi 1.2K Followers Software engineer chasing cultural stories. A lot of people think she was out with a stranger, said Garcia, adding that Rangel-Ibarra is the son of Palacios godmother, and the two have known each other for at least 15 years. The Palacios immediately knew something was wrong. It would be two excruciating weeks before detectives find her dead body tossed in the desert by unremorseful hands. Best life tip: Text your friends back! 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. The beginning of the video shows Lesly Palacio entering the home of Erick Rangel-Ibarra around 6 a.m., following their trip to the Longhorn Hotel and Casino. (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. 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. 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. The night before she went missing, Palacio had been texting her sister, Karely Palacio. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. As of Monday, Palacios cause and manner of death have not been determined.