Podcast Summary

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Decades After She Was Identified, the Killing of Eulalia Chavez Remains Unsolved
Date: February 3, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Crime Stories with Nancy Grace focuses on one of Illinois's most haunting cold cases: the unsolved 1986 murder of Eulalia "Lally" Chavez. Nearly four decades after her tragic death and years after she was finally identified, her killer remains unknown. Nancy Grace and her team detail the investigation, advances in forensic science, and renewed calls for public help, before providing brief coverage of recent national crime and justice headlines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Eulalia Chavez Cold Case

• Discovery & Details of the Crime

  • [00:01] John Laemmle recounts that Eulalia Chavez’s body was found in a remote cornfield near Lebanon, Illinois, on September 6, 1986.
  • A farmer discovered her nude body, the victim of strangulation and brutal mutilation. The killer used Chavez's own clothing as a ligature.
  • Disturbingly, "her killer cut her pelvic area and attempted to remove her reproductive organs." For decades, no suspect was identified.

• Victim Identification and Background

  • [00:45] In 2007, officials finally identified the body as 27-year-old Eulalia Chavez, a runaway from Palo Alto, California.
  • Chavez had vanished in the mid-1970s while hitchhiking and following music concerts across the country, which complicated the original missing persons investigation.

• Investigation and Current Efforts

  • [01:15] Despite advances in forensic science, including DNA analysis and composite imaging, law enforcement has yet to charge a suspect:

    "Despite technological advances in forensic science, including DNA analysis and composite imaging, law enforcement has not charged a suspect." — John Laemmle [01:15]

  • The FBI’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP) has renewed appeals for information, releasing a VICAP alert seeking any details about Chavez and her activities in the months before her death.

• Public Call to Action

  • Authorities urge anyone with information, "no matter how small," to come forward to aid the investigation.

Breaking National Crime & Justice News

• Federal Civil Rights Probe – Minnesota Shooting

  • [01:55] The DOJ and FBI have launched a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy, a Minneapolis nurse killed by federal immigration officers during a protest.
    • Preddy, documenting a border patrol operation, was shot after a legal firearm was taken from his waistband—video evidence contradicts agents' initial claims that he attacked officers.
    • The case has "sparked public outcry and renewed scrutiny of federal use of force in protest policing."

      "Footage reviewed by officials showed Preddy holding only a cell phone when officers tackled him and later being shot after a firearm for which he held a legal permit was removed from his waistband." — John Laemmle [02:30]

• Louisiana Parade Shooting

  • [03:35] Two juveniles arrested in connection with a weekend shooting during a community parade, resulting in multiple victims, including a hospitalized child.
    • Suspects charged with aggravated assault and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

• Jailbreak in Louisiana

  • [04:28] All eight inmates who escaped from a parish jail have been recaptured after a multi-agency manhunt.
    • No injuries reported; inmates will face additional charges and officials are reviewing security protocols.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Eulalia Chavez case:

  "The body of Eulalia Lally Chavez was discovered almost 40 years ago in a remote cornfield near Lebanon, Illinois... Authorities later learned she had been strangled with her own clothing, and evidence at the scene suggested signs of extreme violence." — John Laemmle [00:10–00:25]

• On advances in forensics:

  "Despite technological advances in forensic science, including DNA analysis and composite imaging, law enforcement has not charged a suspect." — John Laemmle [01:15]

• On the unresolved nature:

  "Authorities are urging anyone with details, no matter how small, to come forward." — John Laemmle [01:30]

• On Alex Preddy shooting:

  "Footage reviewed by officials showed Preddy holding only a cell phone when officers tackled him and later being shot after a firearm for which he held a legal permit was removed from his waistband." — John Laemmle [02:30]

Important Timestamps

• [00:01–01:38] — The Eulalia Chavez case: background, discovery, investigation, current status.
• [01:55–05:21] — National crime headlines:
  • [01:55] Minnesota: Alex Preddy shooting & DOJ investigation
  • [03:35] Louisiana: Community parade shooting & juvenile arrests
  • [04:28] Louisiana: Recapture of escaped parish jail inmates

Tone & Style

• The narration is serious, urgent, and advocates action, especially regarding unresolved cases and appeals for public assistance.
• The tone balances respectful commemoration of victims with investigative rigor and a commitment to justice.

Summary Conclusion

This episode spotlights the enduring quest for answers in the murder of Eulalia Chavez. Decades after her identity was solved, justice for her remains elusive. The episode calls for public assistance, highlights the role of advancing forensics, and incorporates pressing national crime stories, maintaining Nancy Grace's trademark focus: unflinching attention to justice and victim advocacy.