Police seek Nicholas Troy Sheley in case of five murders
UNDATED (AP) -- Authorities in Knox County, Illinois have issued a murder warrant in one of eight killings that may be connected to a 28-year-old man being sought by authorities in Illinois and Missouri.
Police in Galesburg say they've obtained a warrant for Nicholas Troy Sheley on charges including first-degree murder, aggravated battery and vehicular hijacking in the death of Ronald Randall.
Randall's body was found behind a Galesburg grocery store, and an autopsy shows the 65-year-old died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Police say Randall's 2007 pick-up truck was found in St. Louis, and evidence discovered inside points to Sheley's involvement.
Illinois State Police say Sheley has been named a person of interest in at least five other killings and may be connected to two in Missouri.
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A timeline of events leading to Tuesday's search for Nicholas T. Sheley, a 28-year-old convicted felon police say may be connected to a string of eight recent killings in Illinois and Missouri.
Sheley has not been charged in any of the deaths. Police are calling him a person of interest.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14:
A man forces his way into a 90-year-old woman's home in Whiteside County in northern Illinois, takes some money and forces her to write out checks. A warrant is eventually issued for Nicholas T. Sheley's arrest on home invasion charges.
THURSDAY, JUNE 26:
The body of 93-year-old Robert Reed is found stuffed in the trunk of his 2003 Buick Century in Sterling, Ill. Autopsy shows he died of blunt force trauma. Police later identify Sheley, also from Sterling, as a person of interest in the death.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27:
An Arkansas couple, Tom and Jill Estes, check in to a Comfort Inn in the St. Louis suburb of Festus, Mo.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28:
Four people later found dead in a Rock Falls apartment, about 2 miles from Sterling, are last seen on this date.
SUNDAY, JUNE 29:
10:30 p.m. Tom and Jill Estes are seen leaving a graduation party.
Midnight: A hotel guest finds the couple's two small dogs wandering in the hotel parking lot, unhurt but covered in blood. The couple are missing.
MONDAY, JUNE 30:
10:30 a.m.: The bodies of a man and a woman are found behind a gas station in Festus, Mo., about a mile and a half from the hotel. Police say they have obvious injuries.
Around noon: The body of a man is found beside a trash bin behind a Galesburg Hy-Vee Food Store. Authorities believe it may be that of a missing 65-year-old Galesburg man whose car was stolen and later found in Missouri.
4 p.m. The bodies of four people are discovered in a Rock Falls apartment building. They include two men, a woman and a child.
Late night: Sheley believed to be in Collinsville, Ill., across the border from St. Louis.
TUESDAY, JULY 1:
Authorities announce a $25,000 reward in their search for Sheley, saying he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Police search a Collinsville apartment building for a person of interest the Festus, Mo., killings. No one is found.
Autopsies are scheduled for Galesburg victim and for the four Rock Falls victims.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
