Police: Sterling murder suspect’s girlfriend found unharmed

Sheley met with Sterling Police detectives today, and she was in good health and uninjured, Deputy Chief Pat Bartel said this afternoon.

STERLING – Police have located the girlfriend of a Sterling murder suspect who they thought could be in danger.

Olivia J. Sheley, 24, was one of two women at a home at 901 W. 19th St. on May 1 when police said Michael W. Bennett shot and killed Joshua N. Hamrick, 39, after an argument.

Police responding to calls of shots fired at the home found Hamrick’s body in his back yard around 9:30 p.m.

After the shooting, Bennett fled, and a distraught but physically uninjured Sheley was taken to CGH Medical Center. She was discharged midmorning May 2 and went to the home of Bennett’s mother, Mary Bennett of Sterling, before going missing.

Sheley met with Sterling Police detectives today, and she was in good health and uninjured, Deputy Chief Pat Bartel said this afternoon.

She came to the police station and said she was not with Bennett but was staying with family and friends; although, she would not give specifics, Bartel said.

Bennett is on the run from law enforcement and no longer thought to be in the area.

Sheley and Bennett have three young children together, but do not have custody of any of them.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Bennett; he is charged with first-degree murder, and his bond is set at $2 million.

He is 5-foot-8, about 225 pounds with brown hair and eyes. Although he is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached, police do not think he is a danger to the general public.

Bennett, who has a lengthy felony history in Whiteside County, also is on probation.

He was sentenced March 9, 2020, to 2 1/2 years probation for aggravated battery in a public place; charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a weapon were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

On June 27, 2018, he was sentenced to 6 months of conditional discharge for aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, a felony; charges of home invasion and being a felon in possession of firearm were dismissed, also in a plea agreement.

On July 24, 2014, he was sentenced to 3 years for possession of a controlled substance; another 2014 case charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm was dismissed.

Bennett was sentenced to 2 1/2 years probation in October 2006 for aggravated battery causing great bodily harm; probation was revoked the following August and he was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

He was sentenced to 2 years in 2004 for having a firearm with an invalid FOID card, and for possession of 30 to 500 grams of marijuana; attempted armed robbery and attempted aggravated robbery charges were dismissed in a plea agreement.

Anyone with any information on Bennett’s whereabouts can call Sterling police at 815-632-6640, or the anonymous reward hotline Crimestoppers at 815-625-7867. Tipsters who have information that leads to an arrest or conviction are eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.


Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers joined Sauk Valley Media in 2016 covering local government in Dixon and Lee County.