After an Oklahoma police pursuit, an Illinois mass murder suspect and person of interest were found dead
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| Police Department Deputy Chief , Chris Burne, US Today |
Following a deadly police pursuit almost 700 miles away in Oklahoma, a suspect and a person of interest wanted in connection with the weekend mass murder of a couple and their two young children in Illinois were both found dead, according to police.
Just northeast of Tulsa in Catoosa, Oklahoma, Nathaniel Huey Jr., 31, of Steamwood, Illinois, and a woman whose identity has not yet been released by law officials were discovered shot dead inside a car.
Three days prior, a couple, their two young children, and the family's three pets were discovered shot to death at their house in Romeoville, a small community about 30 miles southwest of Chicago, according to Romeoville Police Deputy Chief Chris Burne.
Police claimed earlier this week that the family's murder was a targeted, not random, act of violence.
The family was recognized by the Will County Coroner's Office as Alberto Rolon, 38, Zoraida Bartolomei, and their two boys, ages 7 and 9. The names of the kids have not yet been made public by authorities.
The coroner stated that autopsy and toxicology results will determine the victims' official cause of death and manner of passing.
The USA Today wrote:
A suspect and a missing person's report
Within hours of the family's horrific discovery, police identified Huey as a person of interest, along with a woman he had a relationship with, Burne told reporters during a Wednesday news conference.
The woman was reported by family as a missing or endangered person Tuesday night out of Streamwood, Illinois, Burne said.
Later that evening, Burne said, police issued a statewide bulletin to law enforcement agencies identifying Huey as a suspect in the mass homicide.
Police then issued a bulletin alerting law enforcement Huey was wanted in connection to the killings.
The next morning, on Wednesday, a digital license plate reader alerted the Catoosa Police Department to the suspect's vehicle and a traffic stop was initiated in the city, about 645 miles southwest of where the family was found slain in Romeoville.
The vehicle immediately attempted to flee police, entered Interstate 44 in the city, and ultimately crashed into a concrete barrier, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) reported Wednesday night.
The crash caused the vehicle to catch fire, Romeoville police said in a press release.
At the scene police reported hearing what sounded like two gunshots, and a man believed to be Huey was found dead in the driver's seat. The woman was found with a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital in critical condition where she later died, OSBI and Catoosa police reported.
Coroner to determine suspect, person of interests cause of death
The agency said the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner plans to positively identify the woman who died after the crash. Police said the office will also determine the couple's official cause and manner of death.
Burne said evidence has shown a nexus between the suspects and the victim as well as a possible motive, but could not comment further as the case remains active and ongoing.
"Although Huey is identified as a suspect, this is still an active and evolving investigation," Romeoville police said. "This portion of the incident is still unfolding. We appreciate the public’s cooperation and assistance."
He did say no other people are suspected of being involved in the family's killing.
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Police say Romeoville, Illinois family murdered in home
Romeoville police said they believe the family members were fatally shot sometime between 9 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday.
The bodies were discovered when the Romeoville police responded to a request for a well-being check at the residence, authorities wrote in a statement.
Police said the check began when one of the family members failed to show up for work at 6 a.m. on Sunday, and did not respond to phone calls throughout the day.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Romeoville police at 815-886-7219.
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