A year later, double murder remains mystery

The son of an Algonquin Township couple murdered in their home last year is marking next week's anniversary of their deaths by issuing a new plea for help and doubling a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of their killer.

Nicholas Romano, the oldest son of Nick and Gloria Romano, Friday said he hopes the now $100,000 cash reward motivates someone to come forward with information that might end the yearlong mystery surrounding his parents' execution-style slayings.

"Someone out there has got to know something," he said. "Why would anybody want to hurt them? We need to have these answers."

The Romanos - Nick, 71, and Gloria, 65 - were shot to death Nov. 20 in their home at 6206 Kilkenny Drive, in the Lake Killarney neighborhood between Cary and Crystal Lake.

The couple's other son, Michael of Algonquin, told police he found them dead when he became concerned about their well-being and went to their home to check on them at about 3 a.m.

Each victim was found shot in the head in separate areas of the home, dressed in their daytime clothing. The last family member to see either alive was Nicholas Romano, authorities say. He had breakfast with his father, a semiretired construction worker, the previous morning.

McHenry County sheriff's police said Friday Michael Romano may have information that could help solve the case, but he is refusing to speak with investigators.

"We believe he has information relevant to this investigation that would be key to solving it," Sheriff's Lt. Donald Carlson said.

Michael Romano could not immediately be reached for comment.

Nicholas Romano said he was not aware of the circumstances of his brother's refusal to speak with investigators, but said his younger sibling is not taking part in the hunt for his parents' killer.

Despite the $50,000 reward that has been offered since June, investigators have not received any significant new leads for several months. Like Nicholas Romano, Carlson said he hopes the bigger reward and renewed attention to the case jogs someone's memory or convinces someone to finally step forward.

"There are probably people out there who have information but don't realize how pertinent it is to our investigation," he said. "It may be the piece that we need."

Besides hoping for new information, Carlson said investigators recently re-submitted forensic evidence to a crime laboratory for further examination.

"The investigation is moving in the right direction," he said, "but I don't think at this point we're any closer to making an arrest than we were after a month into it."