Los Angeles County is once again putting cash on the table in the hunt for a fugitive driver accused of shattering a North Long Beach family. On July 7, 2026, officials renewed a $20,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Octavio Montano Islas, who detectives say has been on the run since a pickup truck slammed through an apartment in March 2022, killing a father and his 3-year-old daughter. The Palacios family has repeatedly begged for tips as city and county leaders keep circling back to the unsolved case.
County Renews Reward, Tells Public: Speak Up
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted at its July 7 meeting to extend the $20,000 reward, a move county officials described as an effort to spark fresh leads and keep the case from fading from public memory, according to CBS News. Supervisor Janice Hahn urged anyone who knows where Octavio Montano Islas is, or what happened after the crash, to contact investigators so the Palacios family can finally get answers.
How the Deadly Crash Unfolded
Long Beach police say the fatal collision happened just before 10 p.m. on March 1, 2022, when a 2014 Dodge Ram veered off Rose Avenue and plowed into a ground-floor apartment on the 6600 block of Rose Avenue, killing 42-year-old Jose Palacios-Gonzalez and his 3-year-old daughter, Samantha, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Officers and neighbors scrambled to pull other residents from the debris while, investigators say, the driver ran off on foot. According to a motion on file with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, detectives later took the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which issued an arrest warrant that includes counts of felony manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run.
Trail Leads to Nearby Bar, With DUI Suspected
Investigators relied on search warrants and surveillance footage to track down the pickup, and the truck was spotted leaving a bar near the crash site on the night of the collision, according to reporting from the Long Beach Post. Officials have said they suspect the driver was intoxicated. The outlet also detailed scrutiny of the bar and a broader push from neighbors and community advocates who demanded answers after the deaths.
Family Keeps Case Alive, Demands Justice
Even as the trail has gone cold, family members and supporters have kept the case in the spotlight with vigils and public appeals for information. Esnelia Palacios told CBS News that she and her teenage son saw the crash and that the family has been left with what she described as "unimaginable pain."
How To Share Tips With Detectives
County and city investigators are asking anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to come forward. For non-anonymous tips, the county motion lists Detective Scott Jenson of the Long Beach Police Department Detective Division at (562) 570-7218. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact LA Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or submit information online through Crime Stoppers.
Why The Reward Keeps Coming Back
Officials and victim advocates have repeatedly tweaked the reward in hopes of jolting loose new information. In 2023, the city and county jointly offered $25,000, and the county re-established or increased reward amounts again in 2025 and now once more in July 2026, according to reporting by the Long Beach Post. County supervisors have argued that, when investigations hit a wall, money can sometimes be the nudge a reluctant witness needs to finally speak up.
