LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Erick Rangel-Ibarra stood before Judge Tierra Jones Thursday morning and entered a plea of not guilty in connection to the death of Lesly Palacio.
Rangel-Ibarra was also appointed a special public defender, and his jury trial was set for August of 2026.
Rangel-Ibarra was extradited to the United States in late August of this year. He faces charges of open murder and destroying/concealing evidence. Due to an extradition treaty with Mexico, prosecutors cannot pursue the death penalty in his case.
Palacio, 22, was last seen alive on Aug. 29, 2020, leaving a local casino with Rangel-Ibarra by her side, according to surveillance video released by police. The next day, her family reported her missing. Just over a week later, her body was discovered in the desert near the Valley of Fire State Park on Sept. 9, 2020.
Disturbing video evidence shared with Channel 13 showed Rangel-Ibarra and his father, Jose Rangel, moving a body from their home in the early morning hours of Aug. 29, 2020. Jose initially claimed Palacio died from an overdose, but later admitted to helping dispose of her body. Jose was arrested, pleaded guilty to helping cover up the crime and served less than a year in prison.
Authorities say Rangel-Ibarra fled to Mexico shortly after the killing. He was arrested there in July 2024 and after nearly a year of legal proceedings, he was extradited back to Las Vegas.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson emphasized that prosecutors will pursue justice.
“He’s a man accused of murder. I don’t care what his citizenship is. The evidence shows that he committed this crime of murder. The burden is on us to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt — but where he’s a citizen from or not is not relevant," Wolfson said.
The cause of Palacio's death was ruled undetermined by the Clark County coroner. Still, authorities determined she was the victim of homicide based on the circumstances of the case.
Rangel-Ibarra is charged with open murder and destroying evidence. His arraignment has been rescheduled for next Thursday.
-
New details in hit-and-run crash that hospitalized teen getting off school bus
Yarla Valeriano-Perez was arrested on hit-and-run charges after a crash on Aug. 20 in the area of Amigo Street and Abbeyfield Rose Drive.
Police: Paradise fight ends in fatal stabbing, leaving one dead
At 9:35 a.m. on August 22, a fight in a Paradise wash area near Algonquin Drive and East Viking Road ended in a fatal stabbing, LVMPD shared.
Investigation concludes: LVMPD arrests one involved in illegal fencing operation
A three-month long investigation into an illegal fencing operation has come to an end with the arrest of Javier Becerril-Solis, according to LVMPD.
One dead after vehicle collision, driver arrested for DUI-related charges
The 107th traffic-related fatality in LVMPD's jurisdiction for 2025 was recorded Saturday morning after a passenger was killed in a "vehicle versus fixed object" collision, police shared.
