Sheley indicted in Galesburg

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GALESBURG - Multiple homicide suspect Nicholas T. Sheley, 28, of Sterling, has been indicted on 17 felony counts - 10 alleging first-degree murder - in the beating death of a Galesburg man. The seven other counts include aggravated kidnapping and possession of a stolen vehicle. The indictment supersedes five charges - first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated vehicular hijacking and two thefts - previously filed by Knox County State's Attorney John Pepmeyer in the death of Ronald A. Randall, 65. At a hearing Monday at which the charges were read, Sheley's bond was raised from $1 million to $10 million. He is likely to enter a plea at his arraignment Aug. 6. Pepmeyer, who appeared in court with Michael Atterberry of the Illinois Attorney General's Office, will have 120 days from the arraignment to file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. Sheley, appearing with Knox County Public Defender Jim Harrell, showed little emotion as each charge was read. Investigators say Sheley encountered Randall at a car wash on June 28, beat him in the head with a blunt object, stole his wallet and dumped his body in a trash bin behind a nearby grocery store. Randall's body was discovered June 30. Earlier that day, investigators tracked his Silverado to St. Louis using the truck's satellite-based OnStar feature. Sheley also was charged with possession of a motor vehicle. Police allege that on June 28, Sheley took a 1989 Dodge Ram pickup truck from Illinois Oil Products, Inc., in Rock Island. The car was recovered the next day at Southard's Car Wash in Galesburg. An indictment means a grand jury heard testimony and determined that there was enough evidence to warrant a trial. Indictments often are considered more weighty than charges levied by a state's attorney alone. Multiple charges outlining various circumstances of the same crime - in this case, 10 counts of first-degree murder in one death - often are filed, to give jurors options when determining guilt. Sheley also is charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the beating death of Russell R. Reed, 93, of rural Sterling. Police found Reed's body June 26 in the trunk of his own 2003 Buick Century, which was parked in the driveway of a house on Griswold Avenue. Reed and his car had been missing since June 24. Sheley also has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Jill and Tom Estes, both 54, an Arkansas couple killed late June 29 or early June 30 in Festus, Mo. Sheley also is the prime suspect in the deaths of Brock Branson, 29; Kenneth Ulve, 25, both of Rock Falls; and Kilynna Blake, 29; and Dayan Blake, 2, both of Cedar City, Utah. The four were found beaten to death in a Rock Falls apartment June 30. Charges have yet to be filed in the Rock Falls homicides. The indictment On July 21, a Knox County grand jury indicted Nicholas T. Sheley in the June 28 beating death of Ronald A. Randall, 65, of Galesburg. Sheley is charged with: - 10 counts of first-degree murder, punishable by 20 to 60 years in prison. He also could get life on three counts, because Randall was older than 60 and his death resulted from "exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty." - Two counts of aggravated kidnapping, punishable by 6 to 30 years. - Two counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking, punishable by 6 to 30 years. - Armed robbery, punishable by 4 to 15 years. - Robbery, punishable by 4 to 15 years. - Possession of a stolen motor vehicle, punishable by 3 to 7 years.