Orlando Esiesa Tobar pleading guilty on May 24, 2024, to murdering Conzuelo “Nicole” Solorio-Romero. (Screenshot: KSL)
One of the six people charged in a Utah woman’s kidnapping and murder has pleaded guilty, even going so far as to implicate one of his co-defendants in the slaying. Orlando Esiesa Tobar, 29, admitted to helping kill Conzuelo “Nicole” Solorio-Romero, 25, in February 2021, according to Salt Lake City NBC affiliate KSL-TV.
As previously reported, the victim had been abducted and forced into a vehicle by two armed men.
Tobar’s attorney, Neal Hamilton, reportedly said it was his client with Solorio-Romero getting into a car. Jorge Rafael Medina-Reyes, 21, was allegedly in the driver’s seat.
Conzuelo-Nicole-Solorio-Romero was kidnapped and murder in February 2021. Six peoplee were charged in her death. (Image: Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake)
“Witnesses reported seeing Mr. Tobar escorting Ms. Romero into the residence at knifepoint, followed by Medina-Reyes and Vela,” Hamilton said. “Waiting inside the residence were Carolina Marquez, Fernando Marquez, and Ivan Acosta.”
Court papers depict the alleged killers interrogating Solorio-Romero, with Tobar having Reyes stand behind the victim.
Tobar allegedly asked the woman what she told police regarding a case which ended with federal authorities taking a “close” associate of his into custody. Authorities say Solorio-Romero denied speaking to law enforcement, but as the documents paraphrased it, Tobar allegedly said she “knew too much” and was not going to leave the apartment.
Court papers cited by Salt Lake City-based CBS affiliate KUTV provide a glimpse into what the woman knew: Solerio-Romero allegedly told one of the witnesses that “her husband did not commit suicide as the witness believed, but was murdered by these two (Tobar and Medina-Reyes).”
Tobar allegedly moved his head. Reyes shot Solorio-Romero in the back of hers, authorities said.
She was later shot again when she did not immediately die, police say.
Tobar faces 15 years to life in prison at a sentencing set for July 22. Medina-Reyes is scheduled for a possible plea change in June, according to Salt Lake City-based ABC affiliate KTVX.
The murder and kidnapping cases against Fernando Marquez and Carolina Marquez are ongoing. So are the obstruction of justice and abuse or desecration of a dead human body cases against Ivan Acosta and Cristian Morales.
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