On September 17, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Romeoville, Illinois, resulting in the deaths of four family members, including Roberto Rolon, who was 38 years old. Rolon, along with his wife Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, and their two sons, Adriel, 9, and Diego, 7, were found dead in their home on the 500-block of Concord Avenue.
The discovery was made after a family member requested a well-being check when one of the victims did not show up to work on Sunday morning and failed to respond to phone calls throughout the day. Police arrived at the scene around 8:43 p.m. and found the four family members and three dogs dead from gunshot wounds.
Investigations revealed that the shootings were not a random act and were believed to have occurred between 9 p.m. on Saturday and 5 a.m. on Sunday. The police determined that there was a nexus between the suspect and the victims, indicating a possible motive, although the exact motive was not initially disclosed.
The suspects identified in the case were Nathaniel Huey Jr., 32, who was engaged in a long-standing affair with Zoraida Bartolomei, and his fiancée, Ermalinda Palomo, 50. According to police, Palomo orchestrated a complex plot by creating multiple online personas posing as members of a Mexican drug cartel, convincing Huey that he was in danger. This manipulation led Huey to commit the murders. Surveillance video showed Palomo driving Huey to the murder scene shortly after 3 a.m. on September 16, 2023.
Following the murders, Huey and Palomo were tracked by police and were involved in a vehicle pursuit in Catoosa, Oklahoma, more than 600 miles from the crime scene. The vehicle crashed and caught fire, and officers heard what sounded like two gunshots. Huey was found dead at the scene, and Palomo, who was critically wounded, later died at the hospital. Police believe Huey shot Palomo before turning the gun on himself.
The Romeoville Police Department's final report detailed the extensive and complex investigation, highlighting the manipulative scheme orchestrated by Palomo. The police chief expressed the profound impact of the tragedy on the surviving family and those who investigated the case, emphasizing the senseless act of violence that resulted in the deaths of a young family, including two children.
