Post by Scumhunter on Jun 16, 2015 0:13:23 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: amw.com archives)
Fugitive Profile as of June 16th, 2015: (based on 2007 AMW archive, Orange County warrants search)
Aliases: Juan Articas, Elias Umanzor
Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic
Date of Birth: 12/26/1958
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair): Black
Eyes (Color and Correction): Brown
Other Physical Characteristics: Palacios has a large mole on the right side of his face, next to his nose.
Traits & Habits: Palacios has worked as a security guard and has family in Santa Ana, California.
Last Seen: Tustin, California
Other Possible Locations: Southern California, Mexico.
Who to call if you've seen him: Based on warrant search, our advice would be to call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS
Juan Palacios, wanted for the murder of his co-worker in Tustin, California, was aired on the September 1st, 2007 episode of America's Most Wanted. Below is the case description:
Workplace Argument Turns Deadly
Juan Palacios and Mario Santamaria were co-workers at Salon Guadelajara, a party hall in the Orange County, California city of Tustin. The two men were security guards and had a friendly working relationship until an argument over money would have catastrophic consequences.
Tustin police tell AMW that Palacios and Santamaria were arguing over a debt when their boss intervened in the fracas and sent Palacios home. Before Palacios left, witnesses say that Santamaria threw the sixty dollars on the ground. However, cops say even though Palacios got his money, he was far from satisfied -- his pride was hurt and it was only be a matter of time before he would exact his revenge.
Mario Santamaria returned home just before one in the morning to a house full of friends and family. His daughter had some friends over for a slumber party and many people were still awake. Detectives believe that's when Juan Palacios knocked on the Santamarias' apartment window and called Mario outside.
Witnesses told police they heard yelling followed immediately by gunshots. Mario's wife ran outside to find her husband shot and bleeding. Cops believe that Juan's brother and another male had a getaway car waiting for Palacios. As Santamaria died en route to the hospital, authorities say that his killer was already racing to the Mexican border.
For the last few years, police say that Juan Palacios has been hiding out in Mexico, but cops now believe that he may be back in California. Authorities know that he has family in Bakersfield and Santa Ana, California and may be using his family connections to stay one step ahead of the law.
Thoughts? I confirmed Palacios as still wanted in Orange County warrants under his alias Elias Umanzor. This is a ridiculous case based on what is alleged. It's bad enough to kill someone over measely 60 dollars. But Palacios received the money and just didn't like that is thrown on the ground??? That is crazy. If that can set him off, anything can. It's amazing how he can allegedly kill because of his "pride" because I reckon most normal people do not have any respect for a guy that murders someone over a paltry amount of money and/or petty argument. It seems he fled to Mexico. It's unfortunately been over a decade. But justice delayed is not always justice denied, so call Orange County Crime Stoppers if you know Palacios' wherebaouts.
web.archive.org/web/20070811114916/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=41962
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