Sept. 24--When Nick and Gloria Romano were shot to death in their home near Crystal Lake in 2006, there were dozens of guns and bags of cash strewn about the house, including thousands of dollars hidden inside a drop ceiling and a firearm tucked underneath a couch cushion.
The weapons, ammunition and bundles of cash totaling more than $200,000 were brought into a McHenry County courtroom Wednesday, where the Romanos' son, Michael Romano, is on trial in their slayings.
Romano, 56, who was arrested in Las Vegas last year and charged with the slayings, sat stoically during the second day of testimony in his trial, sometimes scribbling notes, as jurors were shown the evidence and crime-scene photos of his father, Nick, and stepmother, Gloria, shot dead execution-style.
Authorities allege that Michael Romano killed his parents sometime in the late morning of Nov. 19, 2006. He had called 911 at 3 a.m. the next morning, saying he had found his parents dead when he went to their home to check on them.
Prosecutors showed photos of Gloria Romano, 65, lying on her kitchen floor with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. Found nearby were her medications, a box of cereal and a log where she kept track of her blood pressure and weight.
Nick Romano, 71, was found on his back on a staircase leading to the basement.
Other photographs shown to jurors included those of Camel brand cigarettes, one near Gloria's body and one outside the front door. Prosecutors said Nick and Gloria Romano did not smoke that brand; the defense attorney said Michael Romano did not, either.
Nick Romano was wearing a watch and several pieces of gold and diamond jewelry. He had hundreds of dollars in cash and travelers checks in his pockets, along with a key to a safe deposit box.
Prosecutors have contended that Michael Romano shot his parents because he was deeply in debt and was after his inheritance.
His public defenders have countered that the alleged financial motivations for the murders make little sense given the killer left behind large amounts of cash and expensive jewelry.
Prosecutors have also said that, unbeknownst to Michael Romano, his father had written Michael out of his will a few years before the elder Romano's death.
But officials also showed a photograph of a handwritten note by Nick Romano to his son, found in the father's basement office among other papers that appeared to relate to his will. The note said he would leave $20,000 to his son and read in part: "I hope he understands my feelings on how he has affected my life."
Prosecutors gave little explanation for why Nick and Gloria were keeping large sums of cash and multiple weapons in their home. A bundle of cash totaling more than $600 was found on the floor near the fireplace, while a safe in Nick Romano's office held more than $100,000. A suitcase found in a hallway contained more $5,000 in cash, while another $75,000 was located in a canvas bag, officials said.
The trial is due to resume Thursday.
If convicted, Michael Romano faces 120 years in prison.
Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.
