Two adults, their two children and three dogs were found dead in an Illinois home Sunday night, according to police and a local report.
A concerned relative called the Romeoville Police Department (RPD) after one family member failed to show up to work Sunday morning and was unresponsive to calls throughout the day, according to an RPD statement shared by the Village of Romeoville. The deaths likely occurred between 9 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday, police estimate. The victims, identified as 38-year-old Alberto Rolon, 32-year-old Zoraida Bartolomei and their two unnamed children were found deceased in the house with gunshot wounds, according to CBS News Chicago.
Officers also discovered three deceased dogs, the outlet reported. Police are searching for a killer and do not suspect a murder-suicide, according to CBS.
Please see below for the 10 AM update to the active police investigation. @Romeoville_PD pic.twitter.com/UumL1EWE9c
— Village of Romeoville (@RomeovilleToday) September 18, 2023
Neighbors described the victims as reclusive newcomers who rarely left their home. “He was very concerned about not bothering his neighbors,” one neighbor told the outlet. “Very, kept to themselves.” (RELATED: REPORT: Five Dead In Murder-Suicide, Including 3 Children)
“I want to know what’s going on, man. It’s very, very quiet. It’s incredibly quiet,” another neighbor, Dan Lugo, told CBS. “This stuff doesn’t happen here. It’s very unnerving. I’m pretty sure the whole neighborhood is shook up.”
Crime scene technicians reportedly removed various items from the house and took photos of the scene, but no suspects or motives have been disclosed at the time of writing.
“It’s devastating to me, absolutely devastating that a young family has been murdered,” neighbor Lynn Phillips told the outlet. “But I’m very sad. I’ve cried on and off last night. I haven’t really slept.”
The RPD and the Will County Coroner’s Office are still investigating the incident, the corner’s office wrote in a press release. “Final cause and manner will be determined after Police, autopsy and toxicological reports are completed,” the statement reads.