The murder of a family of four and their three dogs was the result of an extramarital affair between one of the plotters of the murder and one of the victims, according to Illinois police.
The bodies of the family were found at their home in the village of Romeoville on Sept. 17. Alberto Rolon, Zoraida Bartolomei, 9-year-old Adriel, and 7-year-old Diego were identified as the victims.
WLS-TV reported that police had suspected 32-year-old Nathaniel Huey Jr. was the killer, which prompted the Romeoville police to reveal some of the results of their investigation into the case.
“The investigation has revealed that Zoraida Bartolomei and the suspect, Nathaniel Huey Jr. had a relationship,” read the statement from police. “The existence of this relationship was known both by Bartolomei’s husband, Alberto Rolon and Huey Jr.’s girlfriend, Ermalinda Palomo.”
Digital evidence allegedly places Palomo, who is 50 years old, at the murder scene and driving a getaway vehicle.
While Palomo’s family initially reported her as an “endangered person” to police, investigators say there’s evidence that she was a willing participant and plotted the murder of the family.
On Sept. 18, police were able to place Huey and Palomo’s vehicle at a Walmart in Oklahoma. When police gave chase, the car sped away and crashed. Both Huey and Palomo died in the fire, but an attorney for the family said that the woman had died of a gunshot wound and police heard gunshots after the crash.
While Palomo’s family denied that she had anything to do with the murders, the new evidence points to her being complicit.
Video from the Walmart shows she and Huey holding hands and purchasing items together, including what appears to be a burner phone, hair dye, and other cosmetic items, according to a public records request.
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s office said they are still working to determine the manner and cause of death for the two.
Romeoville is a suburb of Chicago of about 40,000 people.
Here’s more about the shocking family murder:
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