Hi, crime junkies, Britt here. And happy new year. Can you believe it's 2025? The perfect time for some new year resolutions. Maybe you're planning on getting back in the gym, picking up a new hobby, or maybe you're trying to come to our crime junkie life rule number 10 live tour. I promise the last one is so easy to stick to. And if you haven't gotten

your tickets yet, don't worry, there's still some left, but hurry, they are going so, so quick.

We will have a direct link in our show notes. Which brings me to why I'm here today. This Thursday,

we're headed to our last tour stop, Las Vegas. And for the special occasion, we're unlocking

an episode from the Crime Junkie Fan Club Vault. We hope you guys have enjoyed these re-releases

as much as we have. We've loved being in your ears each Thursday, re-highlighting cases

from all around the country. And we can't wait to see you all in person so, so soon.

Hi, crime junkies. I'm your host Ashley Flowers. And I'm Britt. And the story I have for you

today is about how a young woman's night out with a trusted family friend turned into a nightmare,

leaving her family still searching for answers nearly four years later as the

gears of justice finally start to turn. This is the story of Leslie Palacio.

This is the story of Leslie Palacio. I'm I'm I'm I'm

I'm Even though Leslie Palacio is 22, she lives at home with her parents and four sisters.

And that's just how they like it, because Leslie is the heart, soul, and backbone of the house, the one who makes sure everyone

is fed and safe. But on August 28, 2020, Leslie needed a night out. According to an episode

of In Pursuit with John Walsh about the case, her mom tells her she shouldn't leave the house

that night. It's already too late by the time she's even asking. It's like inching up on midnight.

And every parent knows nothing good happens after midnight.

But every parent also knows that the kids they make those rules for think that they know better.

So Leslie decides that she's going to go out anyways.

She's been DMing with one of her longtime friends,

Eric, and around midnight, she leaves with him to go up to, like, you know, hit up some of the nightlife in town. And while most places would be starting to close down in like a couple of hours,

...