Third man pleads guilty to 2021 murder, kidnapping of 25-year-old Kearns woman
KEARNS, Utah (ABC4) — A third man has pleaded guilty to the 2021 kidnapping and murder of Nicole Solorio-Romero, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
Jorge Rafael Medina-Reyes, 25, pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated kidnapping, both first-degree felonies on June 20, 2024. He was also initially charged with obstructing justice, though that was dismissed with prejudice.
“Our hearts mourn for the loss of Nichole,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “We hope that his outcome can help bring about peace and closure for her family.”
Medina-Reyes was one of the men who took Solorio-Romero, 25, from her home at gunpoint back on Feb. 6, 2021, according to court documents. The kidnappers then took her to a West Valley City apartment where she was held by knife-point before being shot in the head by Medina-Reyes and then shot a second time by co-defendant Orlando Esiesa Tobar, 32.
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Court documents indicate Solorio-Romero was questioned about speaking with police while being held against her will in the West Valley apartment. Solorio-Romero denied speaking with police but told one of the witnesses that her husband did not commit suicide as the witness thought. Instead, she said he was killed by the two men who had her detained.
Tobar told police that Solorio-Romero “knew too much” which led to her then being shot and killed by Medina-Reyes.
A sentencing hearing for Medina-Reyes is scheduled for July 23, 2024. He faces five years to life in prison for each of the two charges he has been convicted for.
Medina-Reyes is the third man to plead guilty to Nicole Solorio-Romero’s murder. Orlando Tobar pleaded guilty to the murder and aggravated kidnapping charges in May of this year. Tobar’s sentencing is scheduled for July 22.
Cristian Morales, who was originally charged with felony obstructing justice and desecration of a dead human body, also pleaded guilty in June of this year. Morales’ charge for obstructing justice was amended to a misdemeanor while the desecration charge was dismissed with prejudice. His one-year jail sentence was suspended and he was released on a two-year probation period.
Ivan Acosta, Fernando Marquez, and Carolina Marquez, all of whom were allegedly involved in the incident are still awaiting trial. Acosta faces charges of obstructing justice and desecration of a dead human body while Fernando and Carolina Marquez face murder and kidnapping charges.
They are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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