Los Angeles County is again putting up cash in hopes of tracking down a driver accused of killing a father and his 3-year-old daughter as they slept. The Board of Supervisors has renewed and doubled a reward to $20,000 for information leading to the capture and conviction of Octavio Montano Islas, wanted in connection with a 2022 crash in North Long Beach that left 42-year-old Jose Palacios-Gonzalez and daughter Samantha dead, per CBS News. Police say Montano Islas, who was 24 at the time, was drunk and fleeing a nearby bar on March 1, 2022, when he allegedly drove his Dodge Ram pickup through the family's apartment wall, then ran off.
Palacios-Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene, while his daughter died of her injuries at a nearby hospital. An arrest warrant has been issued for Montano Islas on counts of felony manslaughter, hit-and-run, and driving under the influence. Supervisor Janice Hahn, who pushed to increase the reward, said the family has waited more than four years without justice and urged anyone with information to come forward.
The victims' wife and mother, Esnelia Palacios, has also publicly appealed for help, saying she and her teenage son witnessed the crash and the suspect's escape. Montano Islas is said to be 5 feet 8 inches and 160 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and tattoos on his right forearm, per Patch. Tips can be reported to Long Beach police at 562-570-7449, or anonymously via 1-800-222-TIPS and the Crime Stoppers website.
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