Relatives, acquaintance also face charges
Although Nicholas T. Sheley is the only person facing murder charges in the deaths of the eight people killed in rural Sterling, Rock Falls, Galesburg and Festus, Mo., last summer, he is not the only person facing criminal charges related to at least one of the deaths.
After police discovered the body of 93-year-old Russell Reed, they also arrested Sheley’s brother, Joshua, 31; Joshua’s girlfriend, Jenna Henson, 21; and his cousin, Eric Smith, 29.
Investigators believe each played a role in helping Nicholas Sheley conceal evidence, including weapons, bloody clothes and the car in which Reed’s body was found.
Court documents made public in the year since the killing describe how investigators believe the events unfolded:
■ On June 24, 2008, the day after Reed was killed, Joshua Sheley called Henson and asked whether he could park Reed’s 2003 Buick Century in her driveway at 1732 Griswold Ave., Sterling; Reed’s body was in the trunk.
■ While at the house, Joshua Sheley told his brother to move the car farther away from the street.
■ On June 25, 2008 the Sheley brothers and Henson drove to Chicago to throw away a pair of blood-stained shoes into a trash bin. Joshua Sheley then told his brother that he was going to get him out of trouble.
■ Henson told Sterling Police that she knew nothing about Reed’s car being parked in her driveway and that she had not seen Nicholas Sheley in 5 years.
Joshua Sheley was arrested during a traffic stop on June 26, 2008, and charged with concealing a homicidal death and obstructing justice.
Henson was arrested the next day and charged with obstructing justice.
Smith turned himself in to the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department on June 27, 2008, after an arrest warrant for obstructing justice was issued. According to police, Smith drove Sheley around to dispose of blood-soaked clothing.
While being interviewed by investigators, Smith allegedly directed them to a gun and ammunition stashed at his home. Police say Nicholas Sheley stole the Rohm .22 caliber revolver and ammunition from a house on South Ridge Road in Rock Falls on June 26, 2008.
Eventually, prosecutors dropped the obstruction charge against Smith and instead charged him with being an armed habitual criminal, and two counts of possession of weapons by a felon.
In May, a week after a Whiteside County judge denied a request to toss out his case, Smith gave Sauk Valley Newspapers an exclusive interview from the Whiteside County Jail.
After he turned himself in, Smith said, he was interviewed three times by Whiteside County Sheriff’s Detective Robert Luyando and another investigator. During the interviews, Smith told them he had the gun and ammunition.
He did so with the understanding that he would not be charged, Smith told Sauk Valley Newspapers.
When asked by a grand jury why Smith would reveal such incriminating evidence, Luyando said Smith waived his right to an attorney, cooperated with police and revealed where the guns were.
Smith’s attorney, Theron Burrall, said Luyando gave “perjured grand jury testimony.”
Joshua Sheley, Henson, and Smith were indicted by a grand jury in July.
Joshua Sheley likely will be the first to be tried in Reed’s death. A bench trial is scheduled for Sept. 23.
Henson’s case is moving slowly. Her next court appearance will be in July.
Smith is scheduled to appear Oct. 7 on a motion to suppress statements.
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