The Lesly Palacio murder case centers on the August 2020 death of a 22-year-old Las Vegas woman last seen leaving a casino restaurant with Erick Rangel-Ibarra. Her body was found in the desert near Valley of Fire State Park about twelve days later. Rangel-Ibarra fled to Mexico, spent nearly four years as a fugitive, and was extradited to Las Vegas in August 2025. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on August 24, 2026, on charges of premeditated murder and sexual assault or attempted sexual assault.1FOX5 Vegas. Rangel-Ibarra Pleads Not Guilty in 2020 Las Vegas Killing
What Happened to Lesly Palacio
Palacio was last seen alive on August 29, 2020. Surveillance footage from the Longhorn Hotel and Casino captured her dining with Rangel-Ibarra, and the two left together in his pickup truck.2Las Vegas Sun. Devastated Vegas Family Justice Months Lesly Slain Her family reported her missing, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detectives quickly moved the case from missing persons to homicide.3LVMPD. LVMPD News Release
On September 9, 2020, LVMPD investigators, Moapa Tribal Police, and Red Rock Search & Rescue found her body in the desert in Moapa Valley.4News 3 Las Vegas. Body of Missing 22-Year-Old Lesly Palacio Found Near Valley of Fire, Suspect Identified Because of advanced decomposition, the Clark County coroner’s office ruled both cause and manner of death “undetermined,” unable to say whether the death was accidental, natural, a homicide, or a suicide.5Las Vegas Review-Journal. Cause of Death Undetermined for Woman Whose Body Was Found in Desert Prosecutors have proceeded despite that ruling.
The Evidence Against Rangel-Ibarra
Home surveillance video from the Rangel residence showed Rangel-Ibarra and his father, Jose Rangel, carrying an apparently lifeless Palacio and placing her in the passenger side of the pickup. Grand jury testimony described Rangel-Ibarra asking a friend for gasoline, telling him he had killed someone, and saying he could not be seen on surveillance buying gas himself. Investigators recovered rubber gloves and cleaning supplies from the home.5Las Vegas Review-Journal. Cause of Death Undetermined for Woman Whose Body Was Found in Desert
Forensic testing returned after the original 2021 indictment has become central to the prosecution. DNA matching Rangel-Ibarra was found under Palacio’s fingernails, and her blood was identified on a mattress inside the home. The fitted sheet was missing, and additional blood was found on the bathroom floor.68 News Now. Erick Rangel-Ibarra’s DNA Found Under Lesly Palacio’s Fingernails, Las Vegas Prosecutors Say When Palacio was found, her pants were missing and her underwear was improperly placed on her body, details prosecutors cite in arguing that sexual assault played a role in her death.7KTNV. Prosecutors: Murdered Las Vegas Woman Had Suspect’s DNA Under Her Nails
Jose Rangel’s Role and Sentence
Rangel-Ibarra’s father, Jose Rangel, was recorded on surveillance using a garden hose to spray blood and debris off the driveway before the two men headed for Mexico.7KTNV. Prosecutors: Murdered Las Vegas Woman Had Suspect’s DNA Under Her Nails He was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border, admitted watching his son drag Palacio’s body from the home, and pleaded guilty on June 18, 2021, to destroying evidence and accessory to commit murder.8Las Vegas Review-Journal. Slain Woman’s Family Demands Harsher Sentence for Man Who Helped Hide Body On August 13, 2021, he received a two-year prison sentence with 205 days of credit for time served,9News 3 Las Vegas. Man Sentenced in Lesly Palacio Murder Case and he served roughly eight months before his release.10FOX5 Vegas. Judge Approves New Murder Charge Theory in Lesly Palacio Case According to the Palacio family’s attorney, Ofelia Markarian, the Rangel family sold their Las Vegas properties, and Jose Rangel’s whereabouts after release became unknown.11FOX5 Vegas. Attorney for Lesly Palacio Speaks on Third Anniversary of Victim’s Death
Arrest in Mexico and Extradition
Erick Rangel-Ibarra was arrested in Mexico on July 12, 2024, with assistance from Interpol and the U.S. Marshals Service.12KOLO-TV. Man Wanted in Nevada Arrested in Mexico Extradition took more than a year. On August 28, 2025, he was transferred to Las Vegas and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on an open murder charge.3LVMPD. LVMPD News Release
At his September 11, 2025, arraignment before Chief District Judge Tierra Jones, Rangel-Ibarra pleaded not guilty to murder and destroying evidence and was ordered held without bail. He waived his right to a trial within 60 days, and the trial was set for August 24, 2026.13Las Vegas Review-Journal. Suspect in 2020 Killing Extradited From Mexico Makes Not Guilty Plea
The Amended Indictment and Felony Murder Theory
In February 2026, Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani moved to amend the original February 2021 grand jury indictment. That indictment had charged Rangel-Ibarra with willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder. Giordani sought to add an alternative theory: felony murder committed during the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a sexual assault.14News 3 Las Vegas. Judge: Prosecutors Can Argue Lesly Palacio Killed During Sexual Assault
Giordani told the court the forensic evidence supporting the theory, including the DNA under Palacio’s fingernails and her blood on the mattress, had not been available when the grand jury heard the case. “Many of the forensic tests were returned after the grand jury,” he said. “The facts support it.” The defense opposed the amendment, arguing the sexual-assault-based felony murder theory had never been presented to the grand jury and that adding it now violated due process. On April 20, 2026, Judge Jones ruled for the prosecution, finding that no new charges were being added and that the amendment did not prejudice Rangel-Ibarra’s substantial rights.15Las Vegas Review-Journal. Prosecutors Say Sexual Assault Played Role in Lesly Palacio Slaying
Where the Case Stands Now
In June 2026, prosecutors filed another amended indictment that dropped the destroying-evidence charge against Rangel-Ibarra. The reason has not been publicly explained.16Yahoo News. Charge of Destroying Evidence Dropped in Lesly Palacio Case He now faces premeditated murder and sexual assault or attempted sexual assault, and remains held at the Clark County Detention Center. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026,14News 3 Las Vegas. Judge: Prosecutors Can Argue Lesly Palacio Killed During Sexual Assault though more recent reporting indicates Rangel-Ibarra has been seeking to retain a private attorney, a process that could affect the schedule.