Francelia Palomares, aged 32, was brutally murdered on November 6, 2009, in Houston, Texas. Palomares was working alone at the Dolex Dollar Express, a check-cashing store on Fulton Street, when the attack occurred. Investigators reported that she had been beaten, sexually assaulted, and strangled. Her body was later discovered in the back room of the store by emergency personnel after a customer, unable to find any employees, raised the alarm.
The store, which provided services like check-cashing and money wiring for communities including immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador, had no surveillance cameras, making the investigation even more challenging.
According to Houston Police Department (HPD) reports, the front lobby of the store appeared to have been rummaged through, and money was missing. Investigators believe that Palomares might have known her attacker, as there were no signs of forced entry. The secured area where Palomares worked was accessed through a locked door, and it seemed that the suspect may have been allowed entry. Despite interviewing several nearby business employees, no significant leads emerged, and the case quickly turned cold.
Crime Stoppers and the HPD have made repeated public appeals for information regarding the murder, even holding a press conference on the second anniversary of the crime. Francelia's brother, Adrian Palomares, appealed to the public, emphasizing that his family sought healing and justice for his sister. Authorities urged anyone with information to come forward, regardless of their immigration status, and Crime Stoppers offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or charges in the case. Despite these efforts, the murder of Francelia Palomares remains unsolved, and her family continues to hope for closure and justice for her tragic death.
Sources: [Chron](https://www.chron.com) and [Houston Police Department](https://www.houstontx.gov).
