MORRISON, Ill. (AP) — A doctor testifying at the murder trial of an Illinois man accused in a two-state killing spree told jurors Thursday about the numerous injuries he found on a 93-year-old victim.
Nicholas Sheley is on trial in Whiteside County in the killing of Russell Reed of Sterling. Prosecutors say Sheley, 33, was desperate for money to buy crack cocaine when he killed Reed and stole his wallet. Sheley has pleaded not guilty.
Dr. Scott Denton testified that during the autopsy he found defensive wounds on Reed's left hand, dislocated bones, bruises and five broken ribs among other injuries, The (Sterling) Daily Gazette reported. Reed suffered at least 18 blows from a blunt object, Denton said. Reed had been dead at least three days, he said.
Prosecutors allege Sheley killed Reed in his home on June 23, 2008, then also stole his car. Reed's body was found in the trunk of his car three days later.
Shelley is accused in a 2008 spree of violence in Illinois and Missouri that left eight people dead. The current trial is his second; he has already been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison in the bludgeoning death of a Galesburg man.
Illinois State Police forensic scientist Patrick Powers testified Thursday that a fingerprint on the driver's window of Reed's vehicle belonged to Sheley.
Sheley's defense attorney, Jeremy Karlin, noted a distortion and smudge on the window fingerprint. But Powers said was able to clearly analyze enough of the print to make a match.
Also Thursday, Judge F. Michael Meersman told jurors that a female juror was dismissed because she broke a bone. The woman is the second juror dismissed. On Wednesday, the judge dismissed a juror who had a pending child support case that would conflict with the trial.
Two of the three alternate jurors have been called to replace the dismissed jurors. That leaves one alternate juror.
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Information from: The Daily Gazette, http://www.saukvalley.com
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