Brother of man charged in 8 slayings is acquitted

MORRISON -- The brother of a man suspected of killing eight people in Illinois and Missouri has been acquitted of obstruction of justice and concealing a homicidal death charges.

Joshua Sheley (SHEE'-lee) was charged with helping his brother, 30-year-old Nicholas Sheley, cover up the killing of 93-year-old Russell Reed.

Whiteside County Judge John Hauptman said Monday prosecutors may have proved Joshua Sheley knew about the alleged crime, but failed to prove he did anything to conceal it.

Nicholas Sheley is serving a seven-year sentence for assaulting employees at the Knox County Jail while awaiting trial for murder.

He's charged with killing six people in Illinois and two in Missouri in late June 2008.