Lesly Palacio was a 22-year-old nursing student who went missing in August 2020 after a night out with a friend in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her body was found in September 2020 near the Valley of Fire State Park in Moapa Valley, Nevada. The police suspect that she was murdered by Erick Rangel-Ibarra, a 25-year-old man who was seen with her on surveillance footage. His father, Jose Rangel, is also accused of helping him dispose of the body and flee to Mexico. However, the exact cause and manner of Lesly Palacio’s death remain undetermined, according to the Clark County coroner’s office.
## The Disappearance of Lesly Palacio
Lesly Palacio was last seen by her family on August 28, 2020, when she left her home to go out with a friend. According to 8 News Now[^1^][3], surveillance video captured her outside a home in Clark County, Nevada, at around 6 am the following day. She was with Erick Rangel-Ibarra, who she had met through a mutual friend. The video showed them drinking throughout the night at various locations, including a casino and a bar.
The police believe that Lesly Palacio was intoxicated and possibly drugged by Erick Rangel-Ibarra, who then took her to his house. There, he allegedly killed her and then called his father, Jose Rangel, for help. According to KTNV[^2^][2], another surveillance video from a neighbor’s home showed two men dragging a body out of the house and placing it into a pickup truck at around 7:26 am on August 29, 2020. The police identified the men as Erick Rangel-Ibarra and Jose Rangel. The video also showed Jose Rangel spraying the driveway with a hose, presumably to wash away any blood or evidence.
The police traced the pickup truck’s route using the dirt in its tires and other surveillance footage. They found Lesly Palacio’s body near the state park in Moapa Valley on September 9, 2020. She was partially clothed, and her pants were found at the scene, with dirt indicating that she had been dragged. However, by the time the police went to arrest the father and son, they had already fled to Mexico, where they are believed to be hiding.
## The Undetermined Cause and Manner of Lesly Palacio’s Death
The Clark County coroner’s office conducted an autopsy on Lesly Palacio’s body, but could not determine the cause and manner of her death. According to The Cinemaholic[^3^][1], this means that there was not enough evidence on her body to clearly determine how she died. The coroner’s office made the determination on May 19, 2021, after months of investigation.
The cause of death is the specific injury or disease that leads to death, such as gunshot wound, heart attack, or cancer. The manner of death is the classification of death based on the circumstances surrounding it, such as natural, accidental, homicide, or suicide. An undetermined cause and manner of death means that the coroner’s office could not confidently conclude if Lesly Palacio’s death was accidental, natural, a homicide, or a suicide.
The reason for the undetermined cause and manner of death could be due to several factors, such as the condition of the body, the lack of witnesses, the absence of a weapon, or the presence of multiple injuries. In Lesly Palacio’s case, her body was severely decomposed, as she had been exposed to the elements for over a week. This could have erased any signs of trauma, poisoning, or disease. Moreover, the police have not recovered any weapon or evidence that could link Erick Rangel-Ibarra to the murder, such as DNA, fingerprints, or blood.
## The Legal Status of Erick Rangel-Ibarra and Jose Rangel
Despite the undetermined cause and manner of death, the police have charged Erick Rangel-Ibarra with open murder and Jose Rangel with accessory to murder and destruction or concealing of evidence. Open murder is a charge that allows the prosecution to pursue either first-degree or second-degree murder, depending on the evidence and the jury’s decision. Accessory to murder is a charge that applies to someone who helps another person commit or conceal a murder.
However, the father and son are still at large, and the police are seeking the public’s help to locate them. They have issued arrest warrants and offered a reward of $10,000 for any information that leads to their capture. They have also contacted the Mexican authorities and the FBI to assist them in the extradition process. According to the Indian Express[^4^][4], Jose Rangel’s trial date is set for June 7, 2021, but it is unclear if he will appear in court.
The family and friends of Lesly Palacio are still seeking justice and closure for her death. They have held vigils, protests, and petitions to demand the arrest and prosecution of the suspects. They have also created a Facebook page called “Justice for Lesly Palacio” to share updates and memories of the young woman. They describe her as a loving daughter, sister, and friend who had a bright future ahead of her. They hope that one day, they will find out the truth about what happened to her and why.
