Suspect charged with the murder of beloved real estate agent

A Nebraska man has been arrested in connection to the suspected homicide of a beloved real estate agent who went missing on Monday following a home showing, only to be found dead a day later inside the property.

Ross S. Lorello III, 43, was charged with criminal homicide and use of a firearm to commit a felony Wednesday, a day after NP Dodge real estate agent Mickey Sodoro, 70, was found dead inside a home at 19350 W St. in West Omaha that his brokerage had listed as a rental, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Lorello is currently booked and awaiting trial in Douglas County Jail.

At the time of Sodoro’s death, few details were made public about the incident and a motive for the murder has not been revealed by officials. On Wednesday, officers from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said Sodoro’s family had purchased the property and he had been showing it to Lorello as a potential rental. An autopsy finalized on Wednesday determined Sodoro had died of a gunshot wound.

Lorello is the grandson of Ross Lorello, the late founder of Ross’ Steakhouse, a well-known restaurant among locals from the 1950s until it closed in 1996. Bunny Dixon, who married Lorello’s father but had not spoken to her stepson since his grandmother’s funeral 12 years ago, told the World-Herald that police came to alert her that Lorello was loose and likely armed and dangerous after Sodoro’s body was found half a mile from where she lives.

“You wouldn’t think he would be capable of murder,” Dixon said. “He’s such a quiet guy, he doesn’t talk much.”