Tragic Killing of Romeoville Family Shocks Local Residents

Romeoville — The quiet town of Romeoville was left in shock this autumn when a local family was tragically found murdered in their own home, leading to a nationwide manhunt for the suspect.

The victims, Alberto Rolon, Zoraida Bartolomei, and their two young sons, were discovered dead in their residence on Concord Avenue in the 500 block on the morning of Sept. 17. The devastating news came to light when one of the adults failed to show up for work, prompting concerned colleagues to contact authorities.

Law enforcement officials, upon entering the property, made the horrifying discovery of the deceased family members and their three pet dogs, all of whom had been fatally shot. Soon after, they identified 31-year-old Nathaniel Huey Jr., a resident of Streamwood, as a “credible suspect” in the ongoing investigation. Additionally, they named Huey’s girlfriend, 50-year-old Ermalinda Palomo, as a person of interest.

While the motive behind the heinous crime and the evidence linking Huey to the murders were not immediately disclosed, police in multiple states were put on high alert to be on the lookout for the suspects and Huey’s GMC SUV.

On Sept. 20, authorities in Catoosa, Oklahoma, near Tulsa, spotted the mentioned vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. However, Huey, who was driving, chose to evade capture, resulting in a high-speed police chase. The pursuit ultimately ended when the SUV crashed and burst into flames. Subsequently, law enforcement officers discovered the lifeless bodies of a man and a woman inside the wreckage.

Although the official medical examiner’s report is pending, initial reports indicate that both individuals in the vehicle had sustained gunshot wounds. The family of Ermalinda Palomo, through their attorney John Paul Ivec, confirmed her identity as the female passenger. They vehemently asserted that she was not involved in the murder of the Rolon-Bartolomei family and revealed that she had tragically suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Initially, Palomo’s loved ones had reported her missing and suspected that she had been abducted by Huey. However, police clarified that the attack on the Rolon-Bartolomei family was targeted, implying a connection between Huey and the victims that has yet to be fully disclosed.

Subsequent investigations by the Romeoville Police Department, as stated in their report on Dec. 8, have uncovered evidence suggesting a complex web of relationships. It has been revealed that Nathaniel Huey and Zoraida Bartolomei were engaged in an extramarital affair, which both Ermalinda Palomo and Alberto Rolon were aware of.

Moreover, the report disclosed that Palomo played a conspiratorial role in planning the fatal shooting. Surveillance footage captured Huey exiting the passenger side of his vehicle on the night of the murders, entering the victims’ residence, and subsequently reentering the passenger side before the car drove away.

Law enforcement officials have traced digital evidence, linking Huey’s Streamwood residence to Romeoville and back, indicating that Palomo was the driver during this journey.

Attorney John Paul Ivec expressed profound condolences to the Bartolomei and Rolon families on behalf of the Palomo family following these revelations. However, the police have refrained from providing further details regarding the alleged planning of the crime or how the affair may have contributed to the tragic shooting.

The investigation into this heart-wrenching incident remains ongoing.