Family of Four Found Murdered: How a Love Triangle Led to the Tragic Romeoville Massacre
The chilling case of the Rolan family murders began with a seemingly routine welfare check on September 17, 2023, in Romeoville, Illinois. When family members couldn't reach Zoraida Bartolomei, her husband Alberto Rolan, and their children all day, they requested police assistance. The fact that Alberto had uncharacteristically missed work heightened concerns. Officers arrived at the quiet residence to find an unsettling scene - the house largely dark except for a faint light in one corner.
Upon investigation, police discovered disturbing signs of violence through the windows, including overturned furniture. Their concerns escalated dramatically when they spotted two deceased dogs in the kitchen, prompting immediate entry into the home. Inside, they found the bodies of Alberto, Zoraida, and their two young sons, Diego and Adriel. The investigation quickly focused on Nathaniel Huey and Ermalinda Paloma after evidence from the victims' phones revealed an affair between Zoraida and Nathaniel, setting in motion a complex case of jealousy, betrayal, and unspeakable violence.
Key Takeaways
A welfare check initiated after family couldn't contact the Rolans led to the discovery of a quadruple homicide in Romeoville.
Evidence of forced entry and violence throughout the home indicated a deliberate and brutal attack on the family of four.
Phone records revealed an affair that connected the victims to suspects Nathaniel Huey and his girlfriend Ermalinda Paloma.
Emergency Alert and Safety Assessment
Mother's Concern and Initial Contact
Sida Bolome's mother contacted emergency services on September 17, 2023, expressing worry about her daughter's family. She reported that neither Sida, her husband, nor their children had been reachable throughout the day. The situation was particularly concerning because Sida's husband had missed work, which was described as highly unusual for him. The mother specifically requested that someone check on the residence at 512 Concord Avenue in Romeo Ville, Illinois, to verify the family's wellbeing.
Police Welfare Request at Residential Address
Authorities documented the welfare check request for the property at 512 Concord Avenue. The caller provided essential details about the situation, noting that family members were not answering phone calls. Adding to the urgency was information that the husband's workplace had called to report his absence. This combination of circumstances—no communication and a missed workday for someone described as reliable—prompted dispatch to classify this as a priority welfare check requiring immediate officer response.
Law Enforcement Team Deployment to Location
Multiple officers were dispatched to the Romeo Ville residence that Sunday evening around 9:00 PM. Upon arrival, they observed an eerily quiet property with most lights off except for a faint glow from the southwest corner room. Officers conducted an initial perimeter assessment, noting:
Knocked-over television and coffee table visible through windows
Darkened interior despite the evening hour
Three-car garage with no visible activity
While examining the property's exterior, officers discovered two deceased dogs in the kitchen area. This alarming finding established exigent circumstances, prompting the decision to enter the residence. The team coordinated their approach carefully, establishing coverage at both front and rear entrances before making entry through an unlocked back door.
After entering, officers conducted a methodical search of the home, making a series of tragic discoveries that would transform a routine welfare check into a major crime scene investigation.
Environmental Assessment and Property Entry
Property Exterior Evaluation
Officers arriving at 512 Concord Avenue in Romeoville, Illinois encountered a disturbingly quiet residence. The property appeared abandoned with most lights turned off except for a faint glow emanating from the southwest corner room. Officers conducted a methodical exterior assessment by carefully examining windows and doors around the perimeter. Through one window, they observed a knocked-over television and coffee table, raising immediate concerns about potential disturbances inside the home.
Deceased Animal Discovery
While continuing their exterior investigation, officers made a disturbing discovery when looking through a rear window. Two dogs were found dead on the kitchen floor, positioned at opposite ends of the room. This alarming find significantly escalated the officers' concerns about the welfare of the residents. The deceased animals suggested something seriously wrong had occurred inside the residence, prompting officers to call for additional units to assist with the situation.
Emergency Circumstances and Entry Decision
Based on the concerning observations—the overturned furniture, complete lack of response from residents, and most significantly the deceased animals—officers determined exigent circumstances existed to justify immediate entry. After waiting for additional units to arrive, they established a tactical plan with officers covering the front and rear entrances. The team made a controlled entry through the unlocked back door, maintaining proper formation and communication protocols. Officers deployed with clear roles: some maintaining perimeter security while others methodically moved through the property to search for occupants and assess the situation.
Inside the House: What Officers Found
Content Advisory: Restricted Footage
The video footage documenting the interior investigation has been withheld from public release due to privacy considerations and the sensitive nature of the crime scene. The bodycam recordings inside the residence were redacted to protect the dignity of the victims and their families. Law enforcement has only released selected information about what was discovered once officers entered the premises.
Evidence of Struggle and Altercation
When officers entered the home, they immediately noticed clear signs of disturbance. The living room showed obvious indications of a violent confrontation. A television had been knocked over, and a coffee table was overturned, suggesting a significant struggle had taken place.
Officers noted that the majority of lights throughout the house remained off, with only a single light source coming from a room in the southwest corner. This eerie stillness, combined with the disarray, heightened their concerns. The most alarming evidence of violence appeared in the southeast bedroom, where the door showed signs of being forcibly breached. A large footprint was visible on the door, and the wood around the lock area was splintered, indicating someone had kicked it in with considerable force.
Deceased Family Members Located
The welfare check quickly transformed into a homicide investigation as officers moved through the residence. In the area where the living room connected to the hallway, they discovered an adult male victim lying supine in a pool of blood. The man, later identified as Alberto Rolan (Zoraida's husband), had suffered fatal head injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
Two deceased dogs were found in the kitchen area, positioned at opposite ends of the floor. Their discovery was among the first indications to responding officers that something was severely wrong at the residence.
The most heartbreaking discovery came in the southeast bedroom. Behind the damaged door, officers found an adult female, later identified as Zoraida Barto. Near her location, the bodies of two young boys were discovered - Diego and Adriel Rolan. All victims displayed similar signs of violence, suggesting they had been killed in the same manner.
This tragic scene prompted police to begin investigating connections with Zoraida's phone communications, which eventually led them to Erolina Paloma and Nathaniel Hui's residence for questioning.
Identifying the Victims
Male Victim
The deceased adult male was found in the living room where it connected to the hallway. He was discovered lying face up in a pool of blood. Investigators later identified him as Alberto Rolan, Zoraida's husband. Evidence suggested he had suffered fatal injuries to his head, consistent with gunshot wounds. His body position and the blood pattern indicated he may have been attacked suddenly with little opportunity to defend himself.
Mother and Children
In the southeast bedroom, officers discovered a particularly disturbing scene. The bedroom door showed clear signs of forced entry - splintered wood surrounded the lock area and a large footprint marked where someone had kicked it in with significant force. Behind this damaged door lay Zoraida Barto, who had also suffered fatal injuries.
Near their mother's body, officers located the bodies of two young boys, identified as:
Diego Rolan
Adriel Rolan
Both children displayed wounds similar to those inflicted on their parents. The condition of the room and positioning of the victims suggested they may have attempted to seek shelter in the bedroom before the assailant broke through the door.
The family's two dogs were also found deceased in the kitchen area, suggesting the perpetrator had eliminated any potential noise or warning the animals might have provided during the attack.
Suspects and Investigation
Phone Evidence Analysis
Investigators conducted a detailed examination of mobile devices recovered from the crime scene. The phones belonging to Zoraida and Alberto provided crucial information that directed the investigation's focus. Through a forensic "phone dump" process, detectives retrieved messages from various text applications. These messages revealed concerning communications indicating someone harbored significant animosity toward the victims. The content was described by investigators as "pretty clear" regarding the sender's hostility. This digital evidence became a pivotal element in establishing potential motives and identifying persons of interest connected to the case.
Visit to the Paloma-Huie Residence
Following leads from the phone analysis, detectives Garcia and Wagner arrived at the home shared by Erolinda Paloma and Nathaniel Huie. The investigators informed Erolinda they were investigating a murder and referenced the messages recovered from the victims' phones. When officers requested to speak with Erolinda privately, Nathaniel attempted to direct the conversation to take place on their patio, directly in front of their Ring security camera. Sensing potential interference, the detectives suggested speaking in their patrol vehicle instead. Erolinda initially appeared hesitant, expressing concern about Nathaniel's reaction. The officers prioritized getting her statement independently and suggested driving to a nearby location for privacy.
Erolinda Paloma's Questioning
During the interview at a local park, Erolinda revealed she had been in a relationship with Nathaniel since approximately 2015. When detectives inquired why she seemed frightened, Erolinda initially denied being afraid of Nathaniel but then described a concerning phone call. She explained that she had called Nathaniel because she was worried about his whereabouts. During this call, she overheard him saying, "Why are you following me? Do you want to search the car?" This statement suggested Nathaniel may have been under surveillance. Erolinda's demeanor during questioning indicated anxiety about the situation. The investigators learned that Nathaniel had knowledge of an affair between Zoraida and himself, establishing a potential connection to the case.
External Communication Approach
Convincing Erolinda for a Private Discussion
The detectives employed careful communication strategies when approaching Erolinda Paloma. Upon arrival at her residence, they introduced themselves professionally as Detective Garcia and Detective Wagner from the local police department. They immediately established credibility by revealing their knowledge of text messages recovered from the victims' phones, stating they had conducted a "phone dump" that revealed concerning conversations.
The officers recognized the sensitivity of the situation and specifically requested to speak with Erolinda alone, away from her boyfriend Nathaniel. When Nathaniel suggested speaking on the patio near their Ring camera, the officers countered by offering alternative locations that would provide more privacy.
Private Discussion Strategy and Positioning
Once separated from Nathaniel, the detectives prioritized creating a comfortable environment for Erolinda. They offered her the front passenger seat of their patrol car and suggested driving to a nearby park to ensure complete privacy. This strategic location change served two purposes: maintaining distance from Nathaniel's potential influence and creating a neutral space for honest conversation.
During the private conversation, the detectives:
Used open-ended questions about her relationship with Nathaniel
Noted her apparent fear and asked directly about it
Maintained a non-threatening posture by keeping body cameras on
Documented their movements properly for transparency
Created distance from her residence to reduce pressure
When Erolinda expressed concern about Nathaniel being followed, the detectives carefully acknowledged her statements while maintaining focus on gathering information about her connection to the case involving Zoraida and her family.
