Police Arrest 3 More In Connection To Kidnapping, Murder Of Kearns Woman

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Police arrested three additional suspects in connection to the murder of Kearns resident Consuelo “Nicole” Solorio-Romero.

Solorio-Romero was kidnapped from her home in February and later murdered, investigators said. Her body has not been found.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the three suspects as Carolina Marquez, 38, Fernando Marquez, 22, and Ivan Jesus Acosta, 27, all of whom were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.

Acosta was booked on suspicion of kidnapping and obstruction of justice, both second-degree felonies.

Both Carolina and Fernando Marquez were booked on suspicion of murder, a first-degree felony, in addition to kidnapping and obstruction of justice.

Carolina Marquez is Fernando Marquez’s mother, police records show.

According to court documents, Carolina Marques, Fernando Marquez and Acosta were present at a West Valley City residence where Solorio-Romero was allegedly shot.

#Breaking: @UPDSL confirm 3 more arrests have been made in the kidnapping & murder of Nicole Solorio Romero. They are Carolina Marquez, Fernando Marquez & Ivan Acosta. Carolina is Fernando’s mother & a local restaurant owner where Nicole worked. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/A4KOtstSrG

— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) March 24, 2021

“Witnesses state the victim was forced into the studio apartment by the two suspects,” according to a probable cause statement. “Two witnesses who were just outside the door to the studio apartment heard 1 gunshot just after they observed the victim being forced into the studio apartment by the two suspects. One witness stated they observed the victim being shot in the head.”

According to arresting documents, Acosta was outside the apartment and heard the gunshot.

Fernando Marquez admitted to investigators that he was present when Solorio-Romero was killed, court documents state. He also reportedly admitted to lying to West Valley City police officers about the crime.

Carolina Marquez told police she witnessed the shooting death of Solorio-Romero, according to the arresting officer’s statement. Later, a person known as “Chaparro” instructed her to return to the residence and clean up the scene.

Chaparro was later identified as Orlando Tobar, 29, who was taken into custody Feb. 17 along with Jorge Medina-Reyes, 21.

Five people total have been taken into custody in relation to the incident so far.

Late February, court documents revealed one witness told officers the victim was murdered because “she knew too much.”

Solorio-Romero, 25, was last seen Feb. 6. An investigation led detectives to a location where she had apparently been shot.

Witnesses said later they saw Solorio-Romero’s body wrapped in plastic bags then loaded into a landscape truck.