Jose Rangel, the father of a Las Vegas fugitive wanted in connection with the murder of Lesly Palacio in 2020, was sentenced to two years in prison in 2021 for his participation in the alleged murder trial. According to sources, Rangel, then 46, pleaded guilty to complicity in the murder of Palacio in June last year. At his trial, Rangel admitted that he had helped his son Erick remove Palacio’s corpse from the house. He said the victim’s corpse was then thrown near the Valley of Fire at a distant location. Surveillance videos show the two ‘dragging’ her corpse out of the house and into a pickup truck.
Erick is still on the run and officials believe the two left within 48 hours of the suspected murder. A month before his trial, Jose was detained near the Mexican border. In Pursuit With John Walsh is currently taking up their case in an upcoming episode titled Evil Deception, which airs on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. It airs at 9:00 p.m. ET on ID. For the episode’s debut, here’s everything you need to know about Jose Rangel’s role in his son’s sick play.
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Jose Rangel was found guilty of the murder of Lesly Palacio.
Jose Rangel was sentenced to two years in prison at the Clark County Detention Center about a year ago. Rangel was released on April 28 this year, according to a Las Vegas Metro police officer. Rangel was previously convicted in the Lesly Palacio case when video evidence showed he supported his son, Erick Rangel-Ibarra, who is now a fugitive. On August 29, 2020, he was seen assisting his son in moving Palacio’s corpse from their home on Tipper Avenue and loading the body onto a vehicle. Other tapes showed damning material that put his child at the heart of the murder investigation.
According to records, photos of the crime scene taken from the residence showed damning evidence and bloodstains, though the source of the blood has yet to be determined. Authorities also presented images of cleaning supplies and gloves found at the property during the investigation.
According to court documents, Rangel first reported to authorities that Palacio overdosed in their home, but then changed his account, saying he witnessed his son Erick taking the dead body of Lesly Palacio, allegedly wrapped in a sheet, into the transported down stairs. During his court appearance, Jose Rangel apologized to Lesly Palacio’s family.
He claimed:
“I offer my sincere apologies. May they rest in peace. I understand their fear, and it breaks my heart to realize that I have failed as a parent, that two lovely families have been ruined.”
Rangel continued:
“I am aware of my mistake. I am really humbled that this event happened and that I, as a parent, behaved in this way and did not immediately inform the authorities. My passion for getting older has convinced me. I was so nervous I didn’t know what to do. That was treason. I made the wrong choice.”
Jose Rangel told investigators that he and his son left the country shortly after the event. They would have gone to the Mexican border and separated. Rangel was subsequently apprehended and pleaded guilty to aiding and concealing the corpse and complicity in murder. He was released from prison after serving for about nine months.
During the courtroom trial of Jose Rangel in 2021, Lesly Palacio’s family spoke out.
Lesly Palacio’s younger sister, Nayelli Palacio, expressed her dismay at the verdict handed down to Jose Rangel at his 2021 judicial hearing. According to Nayelli:
“It pains me that someone could do this to my sister and just get two years in prison. If you knew Lesly, you’d realize she didn’t deserve it. She had no right to have her life taken.”
The Rangels had known her for 14 years, according to lead attorney John Giordani, and Erick’s father was reportedly present at the residence at the time of her murder. Giordani asked lawmakers to tighten penalties for similar actions in the future.
Giordani said,
“The Nevada legislature must take action because dumping a little girl’s body and treating her as garbage should not be considered a crime. And aiding a murderer after committing such a heinous act should not be considered a crime.”
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