KEARNS, Utah, June 21, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A third man has pleaded guilty in the murder and kidnapping of a 25-year-old Kearns woman in 2021.
Prosecutors say Nicole Solorio-Romero was taken from her home at gunpoint Feb. 6, 2021, and driven to a West Valley City residence, where she was shot and killed. Her body was later found wrapped in plastic bags on the side of the road in Tooele County.
Jorge Rafael Medina-Reyes pleaded guilty Thursday to single counts of murder and aggravated kidnapping, both first-degree felonies, for his involvement in Solorio-Romero’s death, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 23.
“Our hearts mourn for the loss of Nicole. We hope that this outcome can help bring about peace and closure for her family,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said. “Violence of this nature will not be tolerated in our community, and we will do everything we can to deliver justice.”
Charging documents say Medina-Reyes and Orlando Tobar kidnapped Solorio-Romero and took her to Tobar’s home in West Valley City, where she was held at knifepoint.
While there, witnesses told police Solorio-Romero was shot in the head by Medina-Reyes, then shot a second time by Tobar, according to the district attorney’s office.
Tobar and another man, Cristian Morales, then transported Solorio-Romero’s body to Tooele County and left it on the side of the road, prosecutors say.
Tobar previously pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated kidnapping, both first-degree felonies, while Morales pleaded guilty to obstructing justice, which was amended to a class A misdemeanor.
