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[The Tragic Disappearance and Murder of Leslie Palacio: A Quest for Justice]-[MURDERED: Lesly Palacio from Las Vegas]

Crime Junkie · B2 · 2025-01-02

True crime
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📋 Summary

The Tragic Disappearance and Murder of Leslie Palacio

The Night Everything Changed

On August 28, 2020, 22-year-old Leslie Palacio, described as the "heart, soul, and backbone" of her family, went out for a night in Las Vegas with a long-time family friend, Eric Ibarra. Despite her mother's hesitation about the late hour, Leslie accompanied Eric, keeping her sister Corelli updated via text throughout the night. The situation turned ominous at 4:40 a.m. on August 29, when Leslie sent a cryptic text stating, "I have something to tell you," before her communication abruptly ceased and her phone went to voicemail.

A Family’s Betrayal

When Leslie failed to return home, her family visited the Ibarra residence. Instead of receiving help, they encountered Eric’s family acting suspiciously, moving furniture and cleaning supplies. When confronted, the Ibarras provided evasive answers, claiming they did not know Eric's whereabouts. This encounter marked the beginning of a harrowing search, as the police initially dismissed the disappearance, speculating that Leslie and Eric had simply run away together.

The Evidence of Foul Play

Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s camera eventually revealed the grim truth. The footage showed Eric’s truck arriving at his home shortly after 6 a.m., with Eric leading an unsteady Leslie inside. Approximately 30 minutes later, Eric and his father, Jose Ibarra, were captured on camera dragging a body-shaped object wrapped in bed sheets from the house and loading it into the truck. This evidence prompted a massive manhunt and a search of the desert landscape near the Valley of Fire State Park.

The Discovery and Investigation

On September 9, 2020, authorities discovered Leslie’s body in a state of advanced decomposition in the desert. While a definitive cause of death remained undetermined due to the condition of the remains, the presence of Leslie’s blood on Eric’s mattress and the suspicious nature of her clothing led investigators to classify the case as a homicide. Further investigation uncovered that Eric had contacted a friend on the morning of August 29, frantically asking for gas and eventually confessing, "I killed a bitch," with chilling calmness.

Legal Consequences and Fugitive Status

Eric and Jose Ibarra fled to Mexico shortly after the crime. Jose eventually turned himself in in January 2021. During interrogation, he initially lied about a "spur-of-the-moment" trip, but later admitted to helping his son dispose of the body, claiming he did so to avoid family implication. Jose pleaded guilty to destruction of evidence and accessory to murder, receiving a two-year prison sentence, though he was released early.

The Path to Accountability

For years, Eric remained a fugitive. It was not until July 30, 2024, that police announced Eric’s arrest in Mexico. As the extradition process commences, the case highlights the complexities of international law, as the U.S. must agree not to seek the death penalty or life imprisonment to comply with Mexican constitutional requirements. Leslie’s family continues to push for legislative reform in Nevada, specifically seeking to escalate laws regarding the concealment of evidence in homicide cases, ensuring that no other family suffers the same lack of initial legal recourse.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I promise the last one is so easy to stick to.
2
They are going so, so quick.
3
And that's just how they like it.
4
nothing good happens after midnight.
5
I'm sorry, fuck that.
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📝Key Phrases

1
bring answers to light
2
take advantage of
3
make an impact on
4
come to terms with
5
have tabs on someone
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📖 Transcript

There are some cases so infamous that we have all heard about them.
But some of the coldest cases, the most mysterious, are the ones that you've never heard of before.
I'm Ashley Flowers, and every Wednesday on my show, The Deck, I dive into the coldest of cold cases.
Many of these victims didn't get the press coverage they deserve during the initial investigations, but I'm sharing what our reporting team has found on these stories in hopes that someone listening may have the information needed to bring answers to light.
And that listener could be you.
Listen to The Deck now wherever you get your podcasts.

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