01-05-2025
‘Somebody knows who did this': The unsolved murder of Eddie Hernandez Palma
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Five years have passed since Eddie Hernandez Palma was fatally stabbed in Odessa. His home, once a place of weekend car washes and family check-in calls, became the scene of a crime that remains unsolved.
It was just before 1 a.m. on April 17, 2020, when Odessa Police were called to 2502 North Tom Green Avenue. There, they found Palma, 52, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite first responders' efforts, he died shortly after.
In the days that followed, investigators pieced together fragments of what happened. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showed Eddie speaking briefly with an unidentified man. The man, described only as a Hispanic male, was driving a silver Toyota Prius, an older model, believed to be from between 1997 and 2003. It had paper tags and a spare tire on the front right side.
Surveillance footage from OPD:
What was said between the two men remains unclear. Moments after the exchange, Eddie was seen leaving the parking lot. Police believe he was already wounded by the time he returned home, where the 911 call was eventually made.
Eddie Hernandez Palma was born and raised in Odessa. He was a son, a brother, a father, and a grandfather. Known by his family as someone who prioritized his loved ones, he made a habit of calling his children and grandchildren to check in, and he found joy in family gatherings. On Saturdays, without fail, he could be found outside washing his cars, listening to oldies, and enjoying the West Texas sun.
He was also a man of faith, someone who regularly visited St. Mary's to light candles in prayer. He had a deep admiration for the U.S. military and took great pride in his brother's service to the country.
Eddie is remembered not only by his children and grandchildren but also by his girlfriend Vanessa Munoz and the children he helped care for.
His death left a ripple of grief through a large and loving family. His father, siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins continue to wait for answers.
Despite interviews, billboards, evidence reviews, and community outreach, no arrests have been made. The person seen in the surveillance video has never been publicly identified. The silver Toyota Prius, with its spare tire and temporary plates, has yet to lead investigators to a suspect.
'Someone knows who this is,' said Susan Rogers, CEO of Odessa Crime Stoppers. 'The person who stabbed him didn't just disappear. Somebody recognizes that car. Somebody knows who was driving it.'
As part of ongoing efforts to solve local cold cases, Odessa Crime Stoppers is renewing the call for information. Investigators believe even a small tip, a memory, a name, a license plate seen at the time, could be the key to justice.
If you have any information about the 2020 murder of Eddie Hernandez Palma, you are urged to contact Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-TIPS or visit to submit a secure anonymous tip.
Tips can also be submitted through the P3 Tips app, and cash rewards are available for information that leads to an arrest.
'You will remain anonymous,' Rogers emphasized. 'And your information could help bring peace to a family that has waited four long years.'
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