metro police
Erick Michel Rangel-Ibarra
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 | 7:19 p.m.
Lesly Palacio
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.
Lesly Palacio’s body was found by Metro, the Moapa Tribal Police and Red Rock Search & Rescue crews near the Valley of Fire State Park, about 50 miles north of Las Vegas.
It wasn’t clear how Palacio died, but police said they were in the process of obtaining a warrant on a murder charge for Erick Michel Rangel-Ibarra, 25, who also was reported missing on Sept. 1, along with Jose Rangel, 45.
On Sept. 3, Metro said that foul play was suspected in Palacio’s disappearance and that homicide detectives had taken over the probe.
Palacio was initially reported missing on Aug. 30, a day after she was last seen alive.
Rangel-Ibarra and the older Rangel disappeared the same day, and police put out press releases saying they were searching for them and a white 2004 Ford F-150.
Police didn’t reveal how the woman and the men were connected. The 45-year-old man wasn’t named as a murder suspect. They also didn’t say if they knew the whereabouts of the men.
Las Vegas Justice Court online records don’t show that a warrant for the younger Rangel had been filed as of Wednesday afternoon.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro at 702-828-3521 or via email at [email protected]. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at crimestoppesrofnv.com.
