WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderKnox County Grand Jury Hands Down Massive Indictment in Sheley Case

Knox County Grand Jury Hands Down Massive Indictment in Sheley Case

By Dani Maxwell

GALESBURG - A grand jury hands down a massive indictment against the man accused of killing eight people in two states.

Nicholas Sheley, the man accused of going on a two-state murder spree, faces a 17-count indictment for one case.   A grand jury in Knox County indicted him on 10 counts of murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking, one count of armed robbery, one count of robbery, and one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

That's all for the case in Galesburg, where Sheley is accused of killing 65-year-old Ronald Randall.  Prosecutors say Sheley hijacked Randall's Chevrolet pickup, kidnapped him, stole his wallet, and beat him to death.  Sheley's public defender, James Harrell, did not want to comment on the indictment.

Three of the murder counts allege the crime was exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty.  Sheley will be arraigned on all 17 counts August 6th.  The state's attorney has 120 days after Sheley's arraignment to decide whether to seek the death penalty.

Sheley's also charged in Whiteside County with the murder of 93-year-old Russell Reed.  He's suspected in four other murders there, in Rock Falls.  And he's been charged in Missouri too for the murder of an Arkansas couple, Tom and Jill Estes, visiting the St. Louis area.

With the new indictment in Knox County, the judge increased Sheley's bond to $10 million.  It had been at $1 million.