Trial set for Joshua Sheley: Sterling man charged with covering up 
elderly man’s killing

MORRISON – The brother of spree-killing defendant Nicholas T. Sheley will be the first person to go to trial in connection with the death of a 93-year-old Sterling man, a Whiteside County judge decided Wednesday.

Joshua Sheley, 31, waived his right to a trial by jury and instead will have a bench trial starting Sept. 23. The trial is expected to last at least 3 days.

During a bench trial, a judge alone hears the evidence and renders a verdict.

Joshua Sheley faces two charges: concealing a homicidal death, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and obstructing justice, which carries a prison term of up to 6 years.

On June 24, Joshua Sheley allegedly called Jenna Henson, 21, and asked whether he could park a 2003 Buick Century in her driveway. Russell Reed, the owner of the car, was discovered 2 days later in the trunk.

The next day, the Sheleys and Henson allegedly drove to Chicago to throw away a pair of bloody shoes. Joshua Sheley told his brother he was “going to get him out of trouble,” according to court documents.

Nicholas Sheley is charged with four deaths in Whiteside County: Reed as well as a child and three adults in Rock Falls. He also has been charged with murder for the death of a 65-year-old Galesburg man in Knox County and an Arkansas couple who were killed in Festus, Mo.

All were killed during a two-state killing spree last June.

Henson is charged with obstructing justice for allegedly telling 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.