MURDERED: Lesly Palacio
When a Vegas woman doesn’t come home from a night out with a family friend, her close-knit family jumps into action to find her. But did someone they trusted betray them?
Listen in the Crime Junkie Fan Club
Crime Junkie Fan Club members get access to exclusive episodes and content. Join today to listen to this episode and many more!
Please contact the authorities if you have any information:
Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Section
If you have any information about the murder of Lesly Palacio, please contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Section at 702-828-3521.
Crimestoppers
If you want to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 702-385-5555, or visit
www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- In Pursuit With John Walsh: Evil Deception (season 4, episode 5). Directed by Chad Cunningham. Aired September 21, 2022. Accessed April 22, 2024 via Max.
- Las Vegas Sun (Las Vegas, NV): Police searching for missing 22-year-old woman by Ricardo Torres-Cortez. Published September 1, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): Family seeks help finding missing woman, 22 by Tony Garcia. Published September 1, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): UPDATE: Police investigating missing person case after kidnapping report. Published September 1, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): NEW DETAILS: Metro considering foul play in disappearance of 22-year-old woman by Nikki Bowers. Published September 3, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024
- KTNV (Las Vegas, NV): Las Vegas family desperate for answers in the disappearance of 22-year-old woman by Joe Bartels. Published September 5, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): Las Vegas police find missing woman’s body, seek suspect by Alexis Ford. Published September 9, 2020. Updated September 10, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KTNV (Las Vegas, NV): Las Vegas police locate body of missing 22-year-old Lesly Palacio by Jordan Gartner and Austin Carter. Published September 9, 2020. Updated September 15, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): Lesly Palacio’s body found near Valley of Fire; murder suspect identified in case by Lucas Wright. Published September 9, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): Arrest warrants issued for father, son linked to disappearance of Lesly Palacio by Kaitlyn Olvera. Published September 14, 2020. Updated September 15, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): Sheriff Lombardo believes suspects in Lesly Palacio’s death are ‘outside the US’ by Kaitlyn Olvera. Published September 23, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): Surveillance video, statements built murder case in Lesly Palacio’s death by Greg Haas. Published November 2, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): Clark County homicides increase in 2020, boosted by domestic violence by Katelyn Newberg. Published January 3, 2021. Updated January 5, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): Prosecutor: Video ties father, son to slaying of Las Vegas woman by David Ferrara. Published February 12, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KTNV (Las Vegas, NV): Father of man wanted for murder of Lesly Palacio arrested by Joyce Lupiani. Published February 12, 2021. Updated February 13, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): New court records, video detail last moments of slain woman’s life by David Ferrara. Published February 26, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): Video evidence appears to show Lesly Palacio’s body being dragged by accused killers, according to grand jury transcripts by Lucas Wright. Published February 26. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): I-Team: Video shows Lesly Palacio’s body being dragged by accused killer, father cleaning up scene, prosecutors say by David Charns. Published March 1, 2021. Updated March 2, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): Man pleads not guilty in 22-year-old Las Vegas woman’s death by David Ferrara. Published March 5, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): Cause of death undetermined for woman whose body was found in desert by Katelyn Newberg. Published May 19, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): I-Team: ‘Where do you begin?’ Dirt on tires sparks investigators to track Lesly Palacio’s accused killer to desert by David Charns. Published June 17, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): Man pleads guilty to accessory charge in Las Vegas woman’s death by David Ferrara. Published June 18, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): Man sentenced for helping son hide 22-year-old Las Vegas woman’s body by David Ferrara. Published August 13, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KLAS-TV / 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV): I-Team: Father who helped son hide evidence in Lesly Palacio murder case released early from Las Vegas jail by David Charns. Published July 22, 2022. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KSNV / News 3 (Las Vegas, NV): Public urged to help locate fugitive linked to unsolved 2020 murder case. Published November 17, 2023. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KVVU-TV / FOX 5 (Henderson, NV): Suspect in 2020 killing of Las Vegas woman arrested in Mexico. Published July 30, 2024. Accessed August 8, 2024.
- KTNV / ABC 13 (Las Vegas, NV): Suspect in Lesly Palacio’s killing arrested in Mexico by Alyssa Roberts. Published July 30, 2024. Accessed August 8, 2024.
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Las Vegas, NV): Update – Suspect in Custody. Published July 30, 2024. Accessed August 8, 2024.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV): Relatives remember Las Vegas victim as sweet, caring woman by Katelyn Newberg. Published September 10, 2020. Accessed September 3, 2024.
- Las Vegas Sun (Las Vegas, NV): Missing Lesly: Family struggles to cope with death of beloved daughter by Ricardo Torres-Cortez. Published September 28, 2020. Accessed September 3, 2024.
Suggested Episodes
MURDERED: Destiny Jackson & Nazirah Muhammad
When Destiny Jackson and Nazirah Muhammad were found gunned down in their own home, both their families and investigators in Hobart, Indiana, are baffled. Today, they’re so close to solving the case that’s haunted them for the past three years – but they need your help to take it over the finish line.
MURDERED: Jessica Starr
Jessica Starr was 26 years old when she was murdered outside the trailer she was staying at in 2011. Despite friends and family having theories as to what happened, they feel that police in Elkhart, Indiana, have all but abandoned them in their search for justice.
MURDERED: Patrick Shunn and Monique Patenaude
When a couple from Oso, Washington, is discovered missing, it doesn’t take long for detectives to develop a prime suspect. But solving the case, finding their bodies and capturing the killer took approximately 100 days, using a combination of old-school investigative methods and modern forensic tools.
Join our Fan Club to listen to this episode and more!
Unlock all of the exclusive benefits and dynamic listening experience as a Crime Junkie Fan Club member.
Join the Fan Club now to reap the rewards!
