The suspect in the murder of a Chicago family of four and their three dogs was photographed after being shot in a burning vehicle in Oklahoma.
Nathaniel Huey Jr., 31, was found fatally shot Wednesday in the driver’s seat of a car he crashed after a high-speed police chase.
Also in the vehicle was a woman with whom he had a “relationship” and who was found critically injured by gunfire.
They were “persons of interest” in the murder of Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, her husband Alberto Rolon and their children Adriel, 10, and Diego, 7. The family was shot dead on Sunday in their home in Romeoville, a Chicago suburb.
Huey owned a private security company and was pictured with ammunition magazines, a knife and weapons, including an assault rifle with an apparent silencer.
The daughter of the car occupant who suffered gunshot wounds lived with the suspect and described him as a “very dangerous man.”
Pictured is Nathaniel Huey Jr., 31, the suspect in the slayings of a Chicago family of four and their three dogs who were shot dead in a burning vehicle in Oklahoma
He was found fatally shot in the driver’s seat of a car he left with serious injuries after a police chase Wednesday with a woman he was in a “relationship” with in the vehicle
They have been named as a “person of interest” in the murders of Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, her husband Alberto Rolon and their children Adriel, 10, and Diego, 7. The family was shot dead on Sunday in their home in Romeoville, a Chicago suburb
On Sunday, an investigative bulletin was distributed to Romeoville police that described Huey as “irrational and erratic” after the family’s murder.
He had access to a variety of weapons at the private security company she worked for called Black Bear Security, which listed a Streamwood address.
There are photos of him on Facebook armed with weapons, ammunition and body armor. One image shows Huey holding an assault rifle with what looks like a silencer.
Neighbors of the family did not report hearing gunshots after they were killed along with their three dogs.
The daughter of Huey’s passenger – who was not named – described him as “dangerous” and a “huge manipulator”.
On Sunday, an investigative bulletin was distributed to the Romeoville Police Department that described Huey as “irrational and erratic” following the murder of the Chicago family
Cristiana Espinoza, 25, of Streamwood, Illinois, said her mother, whom she declined to name, was with the man for eight years and they lived together during that time.
“He is a very dangerous man.” He is a great manipulator. “A huge manipulator,” she told NBC News.
“When I first met him he wasn’t a bad guy. A few months ago something changed. He excluded us all, including my mother, and now this.
“He started to get suspicious… kept to himself and stayed in the garage. “He started not being himself and was pushing us all away, even my mom.”
She said she spoke to investigators about her mother and Huey, but wouldn’t say what it was about.
Her mother was reported missing and in danger by her family on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, a car linked to Huey was spotted in Catoosa, about 650 miles from the crime scene.
Officers said they tried to stop the vehicle but it sped away. This caused the car to crash and catch fire.
“Officers on scene heard two sounds that were believed to be gunshots,” Romeoville Deputy Police Chief Chris Burne said. Huey was found dead in the driver’s seat and the woman was critically injured.
The incident caused the westbound lanes of Interstate 44 to be temporarily closed near the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa around 11:30 a.m.
Shortly after the Chicago family’s bodies were discovered, a nationwide warning was issued for Huey and his 2017 GMC envoy.
There are photos of him on Facebook armed with weapons, ammunition and body armor
He had access to a variety of weapons because he owned a private security company called Black Bear Security, which had a Streamwood address listed
The daughter of Huey’s passenger described him as “dangerous” and a “big manipulator.”
He is said to have known that the police were investigating him for the quadruple murder, and he is said to have followed the investigators while driving recklessly. However, there was not enough evidence to arrest him at the time.
Police concluded the family shooting was “not a random incident” and there is no reason for the public to stay indoors after the fatal shooting.
Romeoville Police Deputy Chief Burne said: “The evidence has shown us a connection between our suspect and the victims, as well as a possible motive.”
However, he refused to reveal further details about the possible motive.
“Although Huey has been identified as a suspect, this is still an active and evolving investigation,” a police statement said. “That part of the incident is ongoing.”
“We were able to determine that this was not a random incident and there was no reason to set up an emergency shelter,” Burne said Tuesday.
“This incident is a top priority for police.” Officers were called to the family’s property in the 500 block of Concord Avenue for a welfare check.
Her family said they don’t know why someone would want to kill her, and Zoraida’s distraught sister has pleaded for answers.
One of Zoraida and Alberto did not show up for work on Sunday and did not answer calls from relatives, raising concerns.
Police tragically discovered the bodies and believe the shooting occurred between 9pm on Saturday and 5am on Sunday.
A vehicle associated with Huey was identified in Catoosa using a license plate reader and authorities attempted to stop him, but he sped off
He was found dead in a burning car after he was identified as a suspect and the passenger was critically injured
Police tragically discovered the bodies after a welfare check and believe the shooting occurred between 9pm on Saturday and 5am on Sunday
Romeoville Police Deputy Chief Chris Burne said: “Evidence has shown us a connection between our suspect and the victims, as well as a possible motive.”
The Will County Major Crimes Task Force is helping investigators collect evidence and review videos, Burne said.
“All officers and professionals have worked tirelessly on this case.” “Our detectives and crime scene investigators have spent the last 36 hours collecting a tremendous amount of physical evidence.”
Zoraida’s sister Bryana Bartolomei shared a photo on Facebook of the family, who are originally from Puerto Rico.
She wrote: “I want to know what happened to my nephews, my sister and her husband and WHY?
“They were shot in their home.”
The picture shows Zoraida and Alberto beaming with their two sons, one of whom playfully holds a strand of his mother’s hair.
A fundraiser to cover funeral costs was launched on Monday, describing her children as “the sweetest and most innocent angels”. Nearly $30,000 has been raised so far.
Friends described them as “hard-working people who had just bought their first home.”
“Their children were the sweetest, most innocent angels who could take one’s worries away,” the fundraiser says.
“In just a few hours, her life, the life of her family, has changed completely.” “Without her, the world will be a much bleaker place.”
Community members have provided information and evidence to reconstruct what happened. Burne is calling for more support, including Ring doorbell recordings.
It was determined that the shooting of the family was “not a random incident” and there is no reason for the public to stay indoors
Zoraida’s mother Lydia, from Puerto Rico, previously told that they were “so happy” and had bought their Romeoville home just five months ago for $250,000
A fundraiser to cover funeral costs and raise awareness of her case was launched on Monday, describing her children as “the sweetest and most innocent angels”.
The children, Adriel and Diego, attended RC Hill Elementary School, according to a message from District Superintendent Rachel Kinder.
She described their murders as a “senseless act of gun violence.”
“This violent incident and loss will certainly raise many emotions, concerns and questions throughout our entire school community.”
The school provides mental health and counseling to families at the school.
Romeoville Mayor John D. Noak said Tuesday: “Our entire community mourns with the family over this tragic incident.”
“I have directed our social services staff to make themselves available to our community to begin the healing process.”
Zoraida’s mother Lydia, from Puerto Rico, told they were “so happy” and had bought their Romeoville home just five months ago for $250,000.
The last time she spoke to her daughter was shortly before her death at the weekend as the family settled down to watch a movie, and she couldn’t understand why they were being targeted.
Crime scene technicians removed several brown and pink bags and part of a window from the three-bedroom home as the investigation began Sunday.