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Sheley Found Guilty
In the end, the jury didn't take long at all before reaching a guilty verdict in the first trial of accused spree killer Nicholas Sheley.

The eight-man, four-woman jury took less than an hour Monday afternoon to find the 32-year old Sterling man guilty of First Degree Murder, Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, and Posession of a Stolen Vehicle -- this, after what amounted to only a little more than a week of testimony connected to the death of 65-year old Ronald Randall in June of 2008.

Family members didn't speak to reporters immediately after the verdict, but close friend Jim Spellman tells WGIL he's not celebrating right now.

"It's not over yet," Spellman said. "We've still got Whiteside County and Missouri to go yet. But, I feel like we've taken a big step. I think we're seeing justice done."

Sheley is accused of killing five-people in Whiteside County and an Arkansas couple in Missouri.

Spellman says while there is some closure now that the trial is over, you can never really get complete closure.

Jodi Fitzgerald of Sterling is the sister of one of the victims in Whiteside County, Brock Branson, and tells WGIL today's verdict pleased her.

"I'm so happy for the Randall family," Fitzgerald said. "At least they've got this chapter beside them."

Sheley will be sentenced in Knox County November 18th. Meantime, he'll be in Whiteside County Circuit Court for an arraignment in those murders September 26th.
09 19 11 by Newsroom
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