Trial begins for ex-Algonquin man accused of killing dad, stepmom

Out of job prospects and $130,000 in debt, Michael W. Romano gunned down his parents in November 2006 at their Cary-area home to gain his share of their $2 million inheritance, prosecutors said during opening statements Tuesday in his double-murder trial.

"The defendant did the worst possible thing for the worst possible reason," McHenry County Assistant State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally told jurors. "The defendant engaged in this horror because he wanted to inherit their money."

Romano, 56, is accused of killing his father, Nick Romano Sr., 71, and stepmother, Gloria Romano, 65, who were both found shot in the back of the head Nov. 20, 2006.

Romano told police he discovered his parents' bodies at 3 a.m. after driving to their home because he became worried when they didn't return his calls.

Authorities said there were no signs of forced entry and no cash or jewelry missing from the home, and neither of the victims had defensive wounds that would indicate a struggle.

On the way to his parents' house, Romano told a clerk at a convenience store where he bought coffee and cigarettes, "Keep the change. I just came into a large inheritance," Kenneally said.

Kenneally told jurors police interrogation tapes will show Romano was lying about, among other things, how gunshot residue may have gotten on his hands and inside his car. Kenneally said ballistic markings on the three .22-caliber slugs used on the victims were consistent with a rifle that Romano inherited years before.

"You're going to have the opportunity to look at not only what the defendant says but also how he says it," Kenneally said. "As soon as this guy opens his mouth, those alarm bells will be sounding in your head."

Kenneally said Romano owed $70,000 on a credit card, $30,000 in federal taxes, $20,000 to his father and $15,000 to his mistress, and had been fired from a construction job his father had arranged.

Kenneally said Nick Sr. removed Michael Romano from his will years before, leaving the inheritance to his other son, Nick Romano Jr. The only justice in this case so far, Kenneally told jurors, is "to this day, the defendant has not seen a dime of his father's money."

Romano eventually moved to Las Vegas in 2009 to be closer to his biological mother and was indicted in January 2014, arrested and extradited.

Assistant Public Defender Angelo Mourelatos suggested Nick Jr. had motive to commit the murders, adding Nick Jr. emptied out safety deposit boxes at area banks after the murders.

Mourelatos said police didn't find any gunshot residue on Romano. They also put a tracking device on Romano's car and didn't observe any suspicious activity, and received permission to listen in on phone conversations between the brothers.

"For over a year and half they were listening to conversations between Michael and his brother," Mourelatos said. "Michael never makes any admissions."

The trial before Judge Sharon Prather is expected to last two weeks.