SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A tragic case of betrayal and lethal retribution has reached its judicial conclusion with a Utah mother and her son sentenced for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of a 25-year-old woman who had cooperated with police.
Carolina Marquez, 43, has been handed sentences amounting to at least eight years and possibly extending to life imprisonment after being found guilty of second-degree manslaughter and first-degree aggravated kidnapping. Her son, Fernando Marquez, 27, received a suspended sentence for his involvement, having pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice.
In February 2021, in reaction to finding out that Conzuelo “Nicole” Solorio-Romero had acted as a police informant in a case involving another of Marquez’s sons, Carolina Marquez masterminded the abduction of Solorio-Romero. The victim was forcibly removed from her apartment by Orlando Tobar and Jorge Medina-Reyes, who were acting upon instructions from Marquez, according to authorities.
The men then transported her across the Utah-Wyoming border only to return to the vicinity of Salt Lake City, where they awaited further instructions. Solorio-Romero was subsequently taken to a residence in West Valley City, owned by Marquez. Here she was questioned about the information she disclosed to law enforcement. When she confirmed the details of her cooperation, Medina-Reyes fatally shot her in the head, followed by Tobar who also discharged his weapon at the victim.
Following the murder, the culprits reconvened at a taco shop operated by Marquez to deliberate the disposal of Solorio-Romero’s body. Cristian Morales, also known as “The Mechanic,” assisted in transporting and hiding the victim’s remains, which were concealed in plastic in a remote area of Tooele County.
Evidence presented during the trial included images of Marquez cleaning her house of any signs of the crime, underscoring the calculated nature of the act. Despite this, during her sentencing Marquez contended that she never foresaw the deadly outcome of her actions, a claim met with skepticism by prosecutors regarding its genuineness.
The sentencing was marked by powerful testimony from Solorio-Romero’s sister, who spoke of the deep sorrow and loss her family has endured. She pledged to attend every parole hearing in the future, determined to keep her sister’s memory alive and seek justice.
Earlier, both Tobar and Medina-Reyes admitted their roles in the kidnapping and murder, receiving substantial prison sentences. Two other individuals were also convicted on charges related to the desecration of Solorio-Romero’s body.
With these sentences, law enforcement and legal authorities expressed a hope for providing the community with a sense of security and some closure for the victim’s bereaved family, signaling an end to a harrowing episode of vengeance and violence.