More charges in crime spree

FESTUS, Mo. -- The man suspected of bludgeoning eight people to death last month now faces charges in two states.

Nicholas Sheley, 28, was already charged in two of the killings in Illinois. On Thursday, Jefferson County, Mo., prosecutor Forrest Wegge announced two more charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of Tom and Jill Estes.

Wegge said a decision on whether to pursue the death penalty hasn't yet been made.

"That issue is certainly on the table, quite frankly it's at the center of the table, and we'll be making that decision at some point in the future," he said.

The couple from Sherwood, Ark., were found dead on June 30 in Festus, Mo. They were in the St. Louis area to attend a relative's graduation party, and were staying at a Festus Comfort Inn.

Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis said the couple was killed in the hotel's parking lot around midnight on June 30. Police believe their bodies were put in the back of a pickup truck that belonged to one of the Illinois victims. Blood dripping from the truck led investigators to a service station 1 1/2 miles away, where the Estes' bodies were found.

The couple's dogs were found in the hotel parking lot, unharmed but covered in blood. Police believe the couple was attacked as they got out of their Corvette. Both died of blunt force trauma to the head.

In fact, authorities believe all eight of Sheley's victims were beaten to death. They have not disclosed a murder weapon or said if different weapons were used in the several-day killing spree. On June 26 the body of 93-year-old Russell Reed was found stuffed in the trunk of his Buick in Sterling, Ill. Sheley, who had a long criminal record, is also from Sterling.

The other victims' bodies were found on June 30. The bodies of Tom and Jill Estes were discovered around 10:30 a.m. The body of John Randall, 65, of Galesburg, Ill., was found at 12:15 p.m. beside a trash bin behind a Galesburg grocery store.

And at 4 p.m., four people were found dead in a Rock Falls, Ill., apartment, about two miles from Sterling. They were Kenneth Ulve, 25; Brock Branson, 29; Branson's fiancee, Kilynna Blake, 20; and her 2-year-old son, Dayan Blake.

A massive manhunt ended when Sheley was captured about 6:40 p.m. on July 1 outside a bar in Granite City, Ill., near St. Louis.

Sheley has been charged in four of the deaths. Charges have not been filed in the Rock Falls killings, but police say evidence links him to each crime.

Lewis said investigators from both states met Tuesday in Illinois to share notes. He learned so much from the joint meeting that he said the St. Louis Area Major Case Squad may be reactivated on this case.

The chief doesn't believe Sheley committed additional murders, but he said he can't be sure.

"We're hoping that eight is all we have," Lewis said.

Wegge said it wasn't clear when Sheley would be returned to Missouri to face charges.

"Obviously we're going to need the dust to settle a little bit," Wegge said. "Obviously there are a number of jurisdictions involved here."

Lewis said homicides are extremely rare in this town of about 11,000 -- in his 25-plus years here, he's seen only five or six, and this was first one classified as a random killing.