PICTURED: Chicago couple and two sons shot dead along with their three dogs in mysterious massacre – as cops hunt gunman and the victim’s sister pleads for ‘answers’ about ‘horrific crime’

The family of four who were massacred in their Illinois home along with their three dogs have been pictured for the first time as cops continue to hunt for the killer. 

Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, her husband Alberto Rolon, and their children Adriel, 10, and Diego, seven, were shot by a mystery gunman in their family bungalow on Concord Avenue in the Chicago suburbs on Sunday.

Romeoville Police Department investigators have ruled out a murder-suicide and warned the murderer is still on the loose.  

Their family said they have no idea why anyone would want to kill them, and Zoraida’s devastated sister has issued a plea for answers. 

Sharing a photograph of the family on Facebook, Bryana Bartolomei said: ‘I want to know what happened to my nephews, my sister, her husband, and WHY?

The family of four who were massacred in their Illinois home at the weekend have been pictured for the first time as cops continue to hunt for the killer

Romeoville Police Department investigators have ruled out a murder-suicide and warned the murderer is still on the loose

Romeoville Police Department investigators have ruled out a murder-suicide and warned the murderer is still on the loose 

Zoraida's mother Lydia from Puerto Rico previously told DailyMail.com that they were 'so happy' and had only just bought their $250,000 Romeoville home five months ago

Zoraida’s mother Lydia from Puerto Rico previously told DailyMail.com that they were ‘so happy’ and had only just bought their $250,000 Romeoville home five months ago

‘They were shot and killed in their home.’

The photograph shows Zoraida and Alberto beaming with their two young sons, one playfully holding a strand of his mother’s hair.  

A fundraiser created to cover funeral expenses and raise awareness for their case was created on Monday, describing their children as ‘the sweetest most innocent angels’. 

Friends described them as ‘hardworking people that had just bought their first home’. 

‘Their kids were the sweetest most innocent angels who could hug your worries away,’ the fundraiser says. 

‘In just a few hours their lives, their family’s lives completely changed. The world is going to be a much dimmer place without them.’

They pleaded for anyone with information about the gunman to contact police.  

Zoraida’s mother Lydia from Puerto Rico previously told DailyMail.com that they were ‘so happy’ and had only bought their $250,000 Romeoville home five months ago. 

Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, her husband Alberto Rolon, and their children Adriel, 10, and Diego, seven, were shot by a mystery gunman in their cozy family bungalow on Concord Avenue in the Chicago suburbs on Sunday

Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, her husband Alberto Rolon, and their children Adriel, 10, and Diego, seven, were shot by a mystery gunman in their cozy family bungalow on Concord Avenue in the Chicago suburbs on Sunday

Romeoville Police cops found the slain family after they were asked to conduct a welfare check when one of the parents failed to turn up for work at 6am on Sunday and no-one answered their landline

Romeoville Police cops found the slain family after they were asked to conduct a welfare check when one of the parents failed to turn up for work at 6am on Sunday and no-one answered their landline

She last spoke with her daughter shortly before her death on Saturday night as the family settled down to watch a movie, and she could not understand why they had been targeted. 

Romeoville cops found the slain family after they were asked to conduct a welfare check when one of the parents failed to turn up for work at 6am on Sunday.

Officers were confronted by a scene of carnage when they arrived at 8.40pm that evening.

The family appear to have moved to the US in recent years, possibly from Puerto Rico where Zoraida’s mother is based. 

Zoraida was a licensed cosmetologist, while her husband’s age and occupation is unknown.  

Romeoville Police Deputy Chief Chris Burne revealed few details at a press conference on Monday citing the ‘sensitivity of the case and the need to protect the integrity of the investigation’.

But he was confident that none of the dead were responsible and that the gunman left the scene.

A fundraiser created to cover funeral expenses and to raise awareness for their case was created on Monday, describing their children as 'the sweetest most innocent angels'

A fundraiser created to cover funeral expenses and to raise awareness for their case was created on Monday, describing their children as ‘the sweetest most innocent angels’

‘Due to the time that has gone by, more than 18 hours from the time we were contacted, we are not asking anybody shelter in place,’ he added.

‘We are not actively looking for anyone in the area but we do always ask our residents to have a sense of self–awareness and report anything they might see as suspicious.’

Police believe the killings took place in the Chicago suburb between 9pm on Saturday, September 16, and 5am on Sunday.

Crime scene technicians removed several brown and pink bags along with part of a window from the three-bedroom home as the investigation got underway yesterday.

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