Attorney to seek death penalty for Sheley

By The Associated Press

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a 29-year-old man suspected of eight killings this summer in Illinois and Missouri.

Knox County State's Attorney John Pepmeyer filed paperwork in a Galesburg, Ill., court Wednesday saying he will seek the death for Nicholas Sheley (SHEE'-lee) of Sterling, Illinois, in the death of Ronald Randall.

The 65-year-old Randall was from Galesburg. His body was found behind in a store in June.

Sheley's trial is tentatively scheduled for October 14th.

Authorities say Nicholas T. Sheley, 28, of Sterling, Ill., may be connected to a string of eight killings in Illinois and Missouri. Illinois State Police say Sheley was an acquaintance of one of four people found dead inside an apartment in Rock Falls, Ill.

Sheley is also charged with murder in the June deaths of a 93-year-old man in Sterling, Illinois, and an Arkansas couple found dead in Jefferson County, Missouri. Those cases are being tried separately.

Sheley is suspected in the June killings of four people in Rock Falls, Illinois.