Nearly five years after the killing of 22-year-old Lesly Palacio, the primary suspect in her murder has been returned to Las Vegas to face trial. On August 28, 2025, Erick Rangel-Ibarra, 27, was extradited from Mexico and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on one count of open murder. Authorities allege that Rangel-Ibarra killed Palacio in late August 2020 and fled to Mexico shortly afterward.

Palacio was last seen alive on August 29, 2020. Her family reported her missing the following day, and foul play was quickly suspected. On September 9, 2020, her body was found in a remote desert area near Valley of Fire State Park following a large-scale search effort led by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), with support from Moapa Tribal Police and Red Rock Search & Rescue.

Detectives soon identified Rangel-Ibarra as a suspect, as he was last seen with Lesly Palacio at the Longhorn Casino. An arrest warrant was issued for open murder and destroying and or concealing evidence, but investigators determined he had crossed into Mexico, sparking a years-long international search.

The breakthrough came in July 2024, when Rangel-Ibarra was located and arrested in Querétaro, Mexico. His capture followed what authorities described as a “relentless pursuit” involving LVMPD, the Nevada State Police, the FBI, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Marshals Service in Nevada and Mexico, and Mexican law enforcement agencies.

Securing extradition took more than a year of legal proceedings under the 1978 U.S.-Mexico treaty. Experts note that while Mexico has historically been cautious in extraditing nationals on murder charges, cooperation with U.S. authorities has strengthened in recent years, helping to expedite cases like this one.

“This is an important step toward justice for Lesly Palacio and her family,” said LVMPD Homicide Lt. Robert Price. “While we can never bring complete closure, we hope this brings the family closer to the resolution they deserve.”

U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield, who oversees the District of Nevada, highlighted both the persistence of the case and the risks faced by Mexican partners. “Since her murder, there has been a relentless pursuit of Rangel-Ibarra to bring him to face justice,” he said. “Our Mexican law enforcement partners do this work with us every day, often at great risk, and we owe them a debt of gratitude.”

Schofield noted that extradition cases are inherently complex, requiring coordination between sovereign governments. “This actually moved pretty quick,” he said, pointing out that the process took just over a year from arrest to transfer.

Rangel-Ibarra is now in custody in Las Vegas, awaiting trial in Clark County District Court. His return marks a significant development in a case that has drawn public attention for years and underscores both the challenges and importance of cross-border cooperation in fugitive investigations.