A woman connected to the suspect in an Illinois family’s murder died following a car accident and what is believed to have been a murder-suicide.
On September 20, Wednesday, Romeoville, Oklahoma deputies said a murder suspect, Nathaniel Huey Jr., 31, and a woman, who a family attorney identified as Ermalinda Palomo, had been seen in Catoosa, near Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Cops attempted a traffic stop, but the driver, Huey, fled and police began a chase. The suspect’s vehicle crashed, caught fire, and two gunshots were heard. Huey was found dead from a gunshot wound, in the driver’s seat of the car. Palomo was shot in the head and transported to a hospital where she later died.
Huey was under investigation for the murder of an Illinois family of four.
John Paul Ivec, the attorney for Palomo’s family, said that Palomo had been living with Huey. Ivec confirmed Palomo’s identity and mentioned that she had five children and five grandchildren. Palomo, 50, had no criminal record.
Huey had firearms training and was described by authorities as dangerous. His Facebook page indicated Palomo as his “wife,” but Palomo’s family said they were engaged. Her family had reported her missing when she stopped communicating with them after sending messages that raised their concerns.
Huey was a “person of interest” in the murder of Alberto Rolon, 38, Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, and their two children, Adriel, 10, and Diego, 7, who were found dead in their Romeoville home during a welfare check on September 16. They and their three pets were shot in an incident that the police said was “not random.”
Romeoville Deputy Chief Chris Burne, in a press conference, shared that evidence indicated a connection between the suspects and the victims. The exact motive for the murders was not disclosed due to the ongoing investigation.
Palomo’s family told WGNTV that they were not aware of any connection between Palomo and Huey and the deceased family.
The Bartolomei family thanked the public for their support in a statement, emphasizing their focus on providing support and care for their family members.