Family of woman found murdered in Las Vegas home speaks after arrest made in case

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The family of a woman found murdered in a home this week spoke with 8 News Now Friday about their efforts to remember her.

“She was always happy,” Mariana Rodriguez said. “With a smile.”

Rodriguez is remembering a life stolen, sharing everything she will miss about her daughter, 26-year-old Marisela Rodriguez.

The mother of three was found dead inside a home near Rancho Drive and Oakey Boulevard Sunday.

Man arrested in Arizona after body found in Las Vegas home following party

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police told 8 News Now a person living there discovered Rodriguez in a bedroom after a house party the previous night. The Clark County Coroner reported her cause of death as a gunshot to the head.

Mariana Rodriguez described the moment she knew something had gone horribly wrong after she stopped hearing from her daughter and later arrived at the crime scene.

“I felt it and I was like, ‘that’s my daughter in that house,’” she recalled. “The next day they called me and they were able to tell me that it was my daughter.”

23-year-old Steven Flores was arrested in connection with the case Thursday in Dolan Springs, outside of Kingman, Arizona.

According to court records, he faces one charge of open murder with a deadly weapon. His extradition to Las Vegas is pending.

“The emotion,” Mariana Rodriguez said. “To know that they had somebody already in custody.”

Rodriguez said her family is doing its best to find closure, but they are now struggling to handle funeral costs.

“We didn’t expect this,” she said. “And it’s hard.”

She added that those who loved Marisela most are relying on each other as they continue to mourn her life.

“You think that you’re alone in this,” Rodriguez concluded. “But you’re not.”

Marisela’s family is holding two fundraising events to help raise money for her funeral and burial expenses.

They are hosting a car wash and accepting donations on Saturday at 10 a.m. at 4884 E. Lake Mead Boulevard.

A second fundraising event will be held at the same location March 2. It will feature music and food starting at 10:00 a.m.

A GoFundMe account titled “Help Alejandro lay his daughter to rest” was set up by her family.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.