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TechnographIllinois man 'person of interest' in string of murders
By Daniel Yovich, The Associated Press
Posted: 7/1/08 Section: News
STERLING, Ill. - A string of eight killings stretching from northwestern Illinois into Missouri since last week may be linked to a 28-year-old convicted felon from Illinois, authorities said Tuesday as they announced a manhunt and $25,000 award for his arrest.
Seven of the dead were found Monday, including a child and three adults discovered in an apartment in northern Illinois and a couple found behind a gas station in a St. Louis suburb. Police were looking for stolen vehicles in at least two of the cases.
The FBI and local authorities said Nicholas T. Sheley was last seen in Illinois near St. Louis and should be considered armed and dangerous. Public records show Sheley has multiple convictions for robbery, drugs and weapons charges and has spent three years in prison.
He has not been charged in any of the slayings, but has been named a person of interest in at least five killings in western Illinois. He may be connected to three others there and in Missouri, according to Illinois State Police Sgt. Thomas Burek.
The string of murders began with the beating death of 93-year-old Russell Reed, a Sterling man whose body was found stuffed in the trunk of a car Thursday. Sheley also is from Sterling, a town of 15,000 about 100 miles west of Chicago.
On Monday, the bodies of two men, a woman and a child were discovered in an apartment in nearby Rock Falls after a well-being check. Police wouldn't say who made the request for the check, but they believe one of the victims is connected to Reed.
Burek said Sheley is an acquaintance of one of those found inside the apartment.
Also Monday, the body of an older man was found near a trash bin behind a grocery store in Galesburg, a community about 60 miles southwest of Rock Falls.
Police Sgt. James Martinson said investigators were working to determine if the body is that of a 65-year-old Galesburg man who was reported missing Monday. The man's car was stolen and later found in Missouri, Martinson said. An autopsy was planned for Tuesday.
Seven of the dead were found Monday, including a child and three adults discovered in an apartment in northern Illinois and a couple found behind a gas station in a St. Louis suburb. Police were looking for stolen vehicles in at least two of the cases.
The FBI and local authorities said Nicholas T. Sheley was last seen in Illinois near St. Louis and should be considered armed and dangerous. Public records show Sheley has multiple convictions for robbery, drugs and weapons charges and has spent three years in prison.
He has not been charged in any of the slayings, but has been named a person of interest in at least five killings in western Illinois. He may be connected to three others there and in Missouri, according to Illinois State Police Sgt. Thomas Burek.
The string of murders began with the beating death of 93-year-old Russell Reed, a Sterling man whose body was found stuffed in the trunk of a car Thursday. Sheley also is from Sterling, a town of 15,000 about 100 miles west of Chicago.
On Monday, the bodies of two men, a woman and a child were discovered in an apartment in nearby Rock Falls after a well-being check. Police wouldn't say who made the request for the check, but they believe one of the victims is connected to Reed.
Burek said Sheley is an acquaintance of one of those found inside the apartment.
Also Monday, the body of an older man was found near a trash bin behind a grocery store in Galesburg, a community about 60 miles southwest of Rock Falls.
Police Sgt. James Martinson said investigators were working to determine if the body is that of a 65-year-old Galesburg man who was reported missing Monday. The man's car was stolen and later found in Missouri, Martinson said. An autopsy was planned for Tuesday.
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