Romeoville Family Massacre: Illinois Woman Allegedly Tricked Fiancé into Killing Family of Four After Uncovering His Affair

A quadruple murder that recently rocked the community of Romeoville, Illinois, has left many in disbelief. 

The gruesome crime involved the tragic deaths of a family of four, including two young boys and their three dogs. 

The details of this incident were really heartbreaking, marked by deceit and manipulation.

The nightmare started with a wellness check on September 17, 2023.

When police arrived at the residence for the check, they found the entire family and their pets shot to death inside their home. 

The victims were Zoraida Bartolomei, her husband Alberto Rolon, their two sons Adriel (9) and Diego (7), along with their three beloved dogs. 

A year-long investigation into this brutal murder uncovered a web of lies, jealousy, and manipulation.

The victims

A Complex Relationship: Love, Betrayal, and Manipulation

The whole tragedy began after one of the victims, Zoraida Bartolomei started an affair with a man named Nathaniel Huey Jr.,.

Huey was a coworker she met at an engineering company in Glendale Heights. 

Huey Jr.'s fiancée, Ermalinda Palomo, found out about the affair and devised a dark plan for payback.

To exact revenge on her unfaithful partner, Palomo created a series of fake social media profiles.

Using these fake profiles, she convinced Huey Jr. that he was being targeted by a dangerous Mexican cartel.

The elaborate scheme went on for years, with Palomo posing as cartel members who allegedly wanted Huey Jr.'s loyalty. 

Police documents reveal that Palomo’s manipulation was so convincing that Huey Jr. believed he was working for a fictional cartel. 

She made him believe that Zoraida was a mole sent to betray him.

Palomo's manipulation was so intense that it led Huey Jr. to kill Zoraida and her family.

Huey Jr. and fiancée, Ermalinda Palomo

A Deadly Conspiracy: The Night of the Massacre

The horrific killings happened on September 16, 2023. 

Believing he was following cartel orders, Huey Jr. carefully planned the murders.

He meticulously researched the family’s home, taking note of security cameras, the neighborhood’s layout, and the number of dogs present.

According to police reports, on September 14, 2023, Palomo used a fake phone number to contact Huey Jr. 

She claimed that Zoraida was a "mole" who was targeting him.

Fueled by paranoia and the belief that his life was at risk, Huey Jr. began making plans to eliminate Zoraida and her family.

In the early hours of September 16, 2023, Huey Jr. carried out the murders. 

Armed with a 9mm pistol, he broke into the Romeoville home by cutting through two window screens to make it appear as a break-in.

As he made his way through the house, he shot Alberto Rolon multiple times as he ran to protect his family. 

Huey Jr. then turned his gun on Zoraida and their two young sons, who were hiding in a bedroom. 

The brutal attack left the family members shot a total of 20 times. 

In a desperate attempt to mislead investigators, Huey Jr. spray-painted the walls.

He tried to stage the crime as the result of a failed robbery by teenagers.

Ermalinda Palomo

Chilling Discoveries: The Investigation Unfolds

The investigation began when worried family members and coworkers reported that they could not reach Zoraida or Alberto. 

When Romeoville police arrived for a wellness check, they were met with a grisly scene. 

Inside the home, they found the lifeless bodies of the family and their dogs. 

The investigation uncovered a trove of evidence, including surveillance footage and cell phone records. 

These call records ultimately exposed the affair between Zoraida and Huey Jr., leading detectives directly to him.

Police interviewed Huey Jr. at his workplace the day after the murders.

He admitted to the affair with Zoraida but denied any involvement in the killings. 

However, suspicions grew when he was seen transferring firearms from his vehicle, prompting authorities to seize the weapons.

Additionally, data from license plate readers also placed Huey Jr. at the crime scene. 

Despite initially denying involvement, Huey Jr. reportedly confessed to his mother at a local Target store. 

It remains unclear whether she reported this confession to the authorities.

As law enforcement closed in, Huey Jr. and Palomo fled Illinois to avoid capture.

They led authorities on a multi-state chase that would end in a fiery and tragic standoff.

Huey Jr.

A Desperate Escape: The Deadly Pursuit in Oklahoma

After fleeing Illinois, Huey Jr. and Palomo were spotted in Catoosa, Oklahoma, days later, thanks to surveillance cameras at a local Walmart.

The couple was seen casually shopping, unaware that police were closing in on them. 

The calm demeanor captured on video did not match the severity of their alleged crimes.

Police confronted them in the Walmart parking lot.

However, the couple managed to escape in their GMC vehicle, leading to a high-speed chase on the interstate. 

The pursuit ended when their car crashed into a center divider and burst into flames. 

Huey Jr. reportedly shot Palomo in the head before turning the gun on himself. 

Huey Jr. initially survived his self-inflicted gunshot but ultimately succumbed to a second shot to the head.

The case came to a close with the deaths of Huey Jr. and Palomo.

However, the trauma inflicted on the families of the victims and the Romeoville community remains. 

Police Chief Brant Hromadka expressed the deep sorrow felt by all those involved in the investigation. 

The senseless murders of Zoraida Bartolomei, Alberto Rolon, and their two sons have left an indelible mark on the community.

While the official investigation may have concluded, the pain of the loss continues for the surviving relatives and friends of the victims. 

In another case, a mother is accused of killing her son and dumping him on the roadside in a suitcase. 

See the details of that case here 

Source

Source

Source