VA-Jennifer Short

[Doyle]

Jennifer Short's remains exhumed from her grave
http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story156476.html

Rockingham County Names Bridge After Jennifer Short
http://www.wxii12.com/news/2514289/detail.html

[Doyle]

American authorities investigating the slaying of a Henry County, Va., couple and their young daughter visited an airstrip Monday to search for clues about a mystery woman who might be able to shed light on the case.
http://newsobserver.com/nc24hour/ncnews/story/3116917p-2823425c.html

[Rachael]

I forgot about this family. How terrible. I didn't know that they finally found the daughter's remains.

[jblfelines]

Thanks for the update on this terrible murder. I always wondered if they were still working on this case.

[englishleigh]

I was thinking about this case today. She is the little girl from VA who went missing about a month after Elizabeth Smart did, in 2002. Her parents were found murdered in their home and Jennifer was missing...her remains were found in NC a few months later. I think I remember that they arrested a man who had had some business dealings with Jennifer's father, who moved mobile homes, and the man was angry....does anyone remember anything or know any updates to this case?

[englishleigh]

I think I remember they DIDN'T arrest this guy, but he was wanted for questioning, and the last I think I heard, he had fled to Canada and they were trying to extradite him back to VA....that's all I have on this. Anyone?

[fourboys]

Here is the latest that I have found regarding this case:

"He was sent back to North Carolina, arrested as a material witness and questioned intensively, but never charged. Ultimately, he was released."

Sole Suspect In Short Family Killing Says He's Innocent
POSTED: 1:03 am EDT August 16, 2004


STONEVILLE, N.C. -- It's been a frustrating two years for police who have been unable to charge anyone with killing 9-year-old Jennifer Short and her parents.

It's been equally intense for Gary Bowman, the one person named as a suspect, who swears he never met the Virginia family and would never have harmed them.

"This will hang over me for the rest of my life, unless they find the person who did it," Bowman told the News & Record of Greensboro in a recent interview published Sunday.

Michael and Mary Short, were found shot to death in their home in Bassett, Va., on Aug. 15, 2002. The phone lines at their home had been cut, and their daughter was missing.

Six weeks later, Jennifer's bones were found in Rockingham County, about 30 miles south of Bassett.

Garrison "Storm" Bowman came under suspicion after his former landlord in Rockingham County told investigators he heard Bowman talking about killing an unidentified mobile-home mover with whom he had been quarreling.

Michael Short owned a mobile-home moving company.
http://www.nbc17.com/news/3655716/detail.html

[less0305]

I live here near Stoneville, NC. The gentleman that was questioned has never been arrested. The local Sheriff in our county and the one in VA continue to proclaim they will keep working this case to resolution, but as it gets further and further away from the actual events, I think the case grows colder and colder. They keep calling that man a person of interest, but also say they have some other persons who may have information they will be following up. There was a recent memorial ride (motorcycles and cars) in honor of Jennifer. Lots of folks turned out, media, etc. But there just isn't any new news about this case. It has been rumored that the gentleman questioned who fled to Canada has since moved to Michigan. Gary Bowman is his name. He stayed in the local area awhile after coming back from Canada, but I think he's moved on now. Very sad case and I still think there's definitely something hinky about the whole thing.

[englishleigh]

Thanks for the updates, guys!! It sounds to me like Gary Bowman is their man but they don't have enough on him for a murder charge. Very sad.

[less0305]

Just my personal local observation here....

I think IF he had anything to do with it, he didn't do it alone. I think he and someone else had a hand in this horrible crime. But you're right, there isn't enough evidence to arrest this man and make him rat out the other person or persons. There is another person in this area who is pointing a finger at this Gary Bowman a little too heavily and a little too aggressively that gets my hinky meter going. But...probably will go down as another unsolved murder. We have a couple more around here that have never been solved that are somewhat close to the same set of people.

[less0305]

Announcement today that there will be a news conference tomorrow regarding indictments in this case. I'm sure hoping there is finally some closure to this horrific murder.

[englishleigh]

Announcement today that there will be a news conference tomorrow regarding indictments in this case. I'm sure hoping there is finally some closure to this horrific murder.


That is good news!!! Finally!!

[ariel7]

Good news!

[gatetrekker44]

I live in Guilford Co. NC, which is the county below where poor Jennifer's remains were found-this case was never allowed to be far from the media. Prayer vigils, news media updates, family rememberances, all contributed to letting LE be reminded that people did care and no matter how long it took, that the community wanted answers. I will be watching the media coverage on all local channels tomorrow as well as checking the print media for info-I'll post as soon as the info comes out. I truly hope this may be the beginning of the answers that we all have been seeking in this horrific crime-and that finally, this family may rest in peace!

[less0305]

Federal spokesperson says indictments into the investigation are being handed down, BUT the case is still unsolved . Now what the heck does that mean??!!! I guess we'll find out at 11:30 a.m. at the news conference. All our local TV news stations are going to cover it.

[less0305]

Well, they handed down indictments for perjury and obstruction of justice against three individuals who they say gave false and untrue information to the task force leading the task force astray.

[stevie]

I barely slept last night hoping and praying a murder indictment was coming. The local media here was ambiguous about the nature of the charges. Needless to say, some opportunistic lowlifes have stepped in and bungled, to some degree, the investigation.

I would bet the soul of my mother that the person of interest in this case is the culprit. God is on the throne, may he mercifully allow all this to be solved.

Why can't some of the reward money be offered to Dayle Hinman to come here and go over the evidence?

[less0305]

I agree Stevie.....but I'm sure the funds are earmarked for specific things and won't be used for a psychic. Although I think this person could help in this case.

[stevie]

Less, Dayle is not a psychic, she is a highly trained detective and specializes in criminal profiling. Unless her TV show embellishes her abilities for the sake of ratings, she seems like a dedicated, highly insightful professional in the field of criminology. I believe the people who've put up money are realizing it's highly improbable, at this point, to see it do much good. There is a high degree of affectation in this case, a new approach seems plausible.

[stevie]

Please state who you think killed the Short family and why you came to that conclusion . . .

[less0305]

Stevie....

You're correct about Dayle....I remember now.

[gatetrekker44]

such a big buildup to the press conference only to find out that these three jerks were only being charged with lying to the grand jury and obstruction-HOWEVER I did find it interesting that one of the individuals was already in jail related to the murder of his girlfriend-why would these three go so far to try to point the finger at someone else unless they themselves had something to hide?

[SewingDeb]

I live in Guilford Co. NC, which is the county below where poor Jennifer's remains were found-this case was never allowed to be far from the media. Prayer vigils, news media updates, family rememberances, all contributed to letting LE be reminded that people did care and no matter how long it took, that the community wanted answers. I will be watching the media coverage on all local channels tomorrow as well as checking the print media for info-I'll post as soon as the info comes out. I truly hope this may be the beginning of the answers that we all have been seeking in this horrific crime-and that finally, this family may rest in peace!

I lived in Alamance County when this took place, but since I moved I've lost track of it. Somehow I thought Gary Bowman was long since arrested.

[gatetrekker44]

Gary Bowman was arrested by Canadian authorities for entering Canada illegally-they were looking for him because authorities in NC and VA wanted to question him in the Short family murder case-especially since he left for Canada just a few days after the murders occurred-before Jennifer's remains were discovered. He was questioned and released because there was no ACTUAL evidence linking him to the crimes-just those three jerks who evidently "talked him up" to LE. At this point, without a major break in the case, there are simply no new leads for LE to follow up on. HOWEVER, I hope the agencies involved take a real hard look at these three, there may have been more motivation than just wanting to collect a reward. Especially since one of them is accused of a murder and is currently awaiting trial; point the finger in a direction other than your own!


Bring Maura home!

[CandleInTheWind]

So the three individuals were the ones that tried to blame this on Bowman just to collect the reward money?

I thought the one already in jail for murder sounds suspicious also.

[less0305]

I don't think all three individuals worked together. I think it might have been a case of two were in cahoots (as we say around here) with each other and the third person was out there on his own. They gave false information regarding the case in hopes of cashing in on the reward. It kept LE out chasing down information that wasn't true and led to these arrests for obstruction of justice, etc. I'm not sure that the information they gave was all to do with the Bowman guy, or if it was some other type of information. They all three had records, and if I'm not mistaken they all were currently incarcerated anyway for other things, murder being one. I still hear rumors that there is one person who also led the LE in a certain direction and rumor has it that he has purposely tried to finger a particular person. He's the one I think has something to hide, but I guess we may never know. Long ago I did think the Bowman guy was THE guy.....but now I've come to the conclusion that he has been wrongfully fingered and quite possibly by someone very close to him that knew him very well, but also had knowledge of the Short family.

[BluIs]

Less...I'm with you I was so sure Bowman was the one too...but after these individuals were exposed I don't think it was Bowman. Someone obviously had it out for Bowman and really hosed him. I feel sorry for people that have their lives ruined when they were/are actually innocent. Reminds me of Richard Jewel.

I find this case so troubling because nothing out of the ordinary was uncovered on this family yet the crime was so brutal. The Short family just seemed like honest, hardworking family people and that is what has bothered me so much. Wonder if they checked sex offenders very closely in this case?

[stevie]

Who on earth in Bowman's little redneck world could've had the prowess to pull this off on him? The man is a liar. He had a pat answer for all accusations. If Bowman was above board, how could anybody think they could pin it on him? His accuser, Gary Lemons, passed a polygraph test about his information. Also, the house where Bowman lived was torched. Why would three men risk an investigation into themselves over a three way split of reward money? If they did it, they would stay quiet, especially to the F.B.I. and other agencies. The guilty man left no DNA and will not confess. His name is Garrison Storm Bowman.

[mic730]

I live in Roanoke and like most here this case really crawls under my skin so close to home. I so hope it gets solved.
Michelle

Who on earth in Bowman's little redneck world could've had the prowess to pull this off on him? The man is a liar. He had a pat answer for all accusations. If Bowman was above board, how could anybody think they could pin it on him? His accuser, Gary Lemons, passed a polygraph test about his information. Also, the house where Bowman lived was torched. Why would three men risk an investigation into themselves over a three way split of reward money? If they did it, they would stay quiet, especially to the F.B.I. and other agencies. The guilty man left no DNA and will not confess. His name is Garrison Storm Bowman.

[gatetrekker44]

there is simply NO physical evidence linking him to the crimes. And without any physical evidence, LE simply has no new leads at ths point. Whoever committed these deeds was very methodical, starting with the cutting of the phone lines. The parents were shot in their bed-since Jennifer's remains were found quite a while after she disappeared and she had been dumped in a creek, only bones and very little else was found. I know LE was at one point searching for Jennifer's biological father-and I don't know that he ever was id'd much less located. Unless somone gets loose lips, this will be a VERY tough case to solve!


Bring Maura home!

[Snikx]

I've been wondering about a possible connection between Joseph Duncan & the Short family murders. North of Bassett, VA is a large lake, the Smith Mountain Lake, which is a place that is popular with scuba divers and sounds like a great place to visit.
http://www.virginiasbestkeptsecret.com/scubadiving.html

The Short family murders occurred on August 15. In mid-August there is an annual antique boat show at the Smith Mountain Lake. Is it possible that Joseph Duncan, who liked to travel as evidenced in his hobbies of geocaching & scuba diving, who even visited his "doctor friend" Richard Wacksman in Florida where he scuba dived, traveled south and east to southern Virginia, visited Smith Mountain Lake, and while there continued his campaign of "revenge on society" by murdering the Short family and molesting and killing Jennifer Short? If you were traveling south from the Northwest and were going to go to Florida, it wouldn't be that far a stretch to go a bit further east on your way and visit Smith Mountain Lake. Especially since it is said to be so good for scuba diving.

I did call the investigators at the Henry Police Dept. to tell them my idea.
It's just not that common for someone to kill an entire family in order to abduct a child. If it is known that there is someone who has been out of prison for 5 years now and he has done a crime like that, is it unreasonable to think he may have done it before? In his blog he states that he has done two other acts that he hasn't been caught for and more.

[lady-eowyn]

Hi snikx...I think there are going to be alot of cases where people are going to wonder if Joseph Duncan was repsonsible...and I bet Duncan, if he would talk, would point to others that he has murdered. I'm glad you passed the thought onto the Henry Co Police. There didn't seem to be as much violence and rage associated with the Short murders, BUT that can build up over time. We see it often when serial killers crimes get more horrific as they get more confident.

[oceanblueeyes]

Well, they handed down indictments for perjury and obstruction of justice against three individuals who they say gave false and untrue information to the task force leading the task force astray.

From day one I thought the perpetrator(s) were someone known casually to the Shorts. A person who has a mobile home transport business carries large amounts of cash. The workers are usually paid daily. A regular crew is usually four or five plus the driver of the semi.

In all honesty this type of work is extremely hard to do, fighting the heat, cold, mud, snakes, spiders you name it they come across it at one time or another. It is back breaking work, as when the home is set up the workers are under the belly of the home for hours, leveling it up and tying it down and if there is a trade-in on property it too has to be broken down (taken apart) and it is grueling work.

The only reason I explain this is to let you know these kind of workers aren't Mr. Rogers types, far from it.......many of them are scary as h*ll. Many drifters only wanting work for a day or two. Many with criminal records that they will boast about to other workers. Some of them are alcoholics too and druggies unable to get a "regular" job and some running from the law.

I think one of them or more came to the Short home and robbed them and murdered them so they could not identify them and took sweet Jennifer as an afterthought just because they could and did horrible things to the innocent child before they threw her away like trash.

IMO, the key is in who worked for him but therein lies the biggest problem, they dont give their real names, they are drifters unknown to the people of that town so they just move on just like a serial killer does. Many are very nomadic.

Did it ever say who these three individuals are and their link to the Shorts?

It reminds me of the case in Alabama about 3 years ago, two men came to a man's home to rob him (he too was known to carry large amount of cash) they killed his little son while the little boy was trying to be protected in the arms of his father and they tried to murder the man too, he almost died. They thought they had murdered them both......they buried the father on top of his dead son and he lay there until he thought it was safe to claw his way out. They both received the death penalty.

Sorry for the lengthy post. Just thinking about this case today.

IMO

Ocean :twocents:

[oceanblueeyes]

Who on earth in Bowman's little redneck world could've had the prowess to pull this off on him? The man is a liar. He had a pat answer for all accusations. If Bowman was above board, how could anybody think they could pin it on him? His accuser, Gary Lemons, passed a polygraph test about his information. Also, the house where Bowman lived was torched. Why would three men risk an investigation into themselves over a three way split of reward money? If they did it, they would stay quiet, especially to the F.B.I. and other agencies. The guilty man left no DNA and will not confess. His name is Garrison Storm Bowman.

Do we have a media link that shows the reasons these three were indicted and what they actually said? It seems to me that I would find them highly suspect that they were singing like a canary that it was the "other guy" (Bowman). Was this is protect themselves? Who are these people....how were they involved....did THEY ever know the Shorts...was that checked out?

I really dont think this crime took much smarts. Cutting outside lines have been done for years, entering a home when a family is sleeping and putting a bullet in their heads doesn't take much brains either, imo just a high amount of evilness.

I think Jennifer was taken from the home because the people who came in there saw her and decided they could take her and have their way with her and then kill her. I do not believe the taking of Jennifer was the motive of these murders, only an afterthought. I think it was the fact that Mr. Short was known to carry large amount of cash.

TIA

IMO

Ocean

[mic730]

I live about an hour from where this crime was committed.
Here is the link to the US District attorneys press release into those indicted.
I think they were considered to be after the reward money in the case and never actually witnesses anything. I persoanlly still think Bowman is still a suspect.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vaw/press_releases/short_stmt_04mar2005.html



QUOTE=oceanblueeyes]Do we have a media link that shows the reasons these three were indicted and what they actually said? It seems to me that I would find them highly suspect that they were singing like a canary that it was the "other guy" (Bowman). Was this is protect themselves? Who are these people....how were they involved....did THEY ever know the Shorts...was that checked out?

I really dont think this crime took much smarts. Cutting outside lines have been done for years, entering a home when a family is sleeping and putting a bullet in their heads doesn't take much brains either, imo just a high amount of evilness.

I think Jennifer was taken from the home because the people who came in there saw her and decided they could take her and have their way with her and then kill her. I do not believe the taking of Jennifer was the motive of these murders, only an afterthought. I think it was the fact that Mr. Short was known to carry large amount of cash.

TIA

IMO

Ocean[/QUOTE]

[mic730]

The Henry County Sheriffs office issued a statement after Jennifer Shorts remains were found that Mr. Short was her biological father. That was a rumor in the case that was NOT true.


there is simply NO physical evidence linking him to the crimes. And without any physical evidence, LE simply has no new leads at ths point. Whoever committed these deeds was very methodical, starting with the cutting of the phone lines. The parents were shot in their bed-since Jennifer's remains were found quite a while after she disappeared and she had been dumped in a creek, only bones and very little else was found. I know LE was at one point searching for Jennifer's biological father-and I don't know that he ever was id'd much less located. Unless somone gets loose lips, this will be a VERY tough case to solve!


Bring Maura home!

[jblfelines]

I've been wondering about a possible connection between Joseph Duncan & the Short family murders. North of Bassett, VA is a large lake, the Smith Mountain Lake, which is a place that is popular with scuba divers and sounds like a great place to visit.
http://www.virginiasbestkeptsecret.com/scubadiving.html

The Short family murders occurred on August 15. In mid-August there is an annual antique boat show at the Smith Mountain Lake. Is it possible that Joseph Duncan, who liked to travel as evidenced in his hobbies of geocaching & scuba diving, who even visited his "doctor friend" Richard Wacksman in Florida where he scuba dived, traveled south and east to southern Virginia, visited Smith Mountain Lake, and while there continued his campaign of "revenge on society" by murdering the Short family and molesting and killing Jennifer Short? If you were traveling south from the Northwest and were going to go to Florida, it wouldn't be that far a stretch to go a bit further east on your way and visit Smith Mountain Lake. Especially since it is said to be so good for scuba diving.

I did call the investigators at the Henry Police Dept. to tell them my idea.
It's just not that common for someone to kill an entire family in order to abduct a child. If it is known that there is someone who has been out of prison for 5 years now and he has done a crime like that, is it unreasonable to think he may have done it before? In his blog he states that he has done two other acts that he hasn't been caught for and more.

I definitely feel Duncan should be investigated for this murder. He brags in his blog of doing things and not getting caught. I am glad you called the Henry Police Dept. Poor family needs the media and the public to keep this case open since they are no longer able to. Duncan was not a suspect in the Groene case either. If he had not been found with Shasta the case would also be unsolved.

[stevie]

Bowman and his landlord were having a dispute over a mobile home. The mobile home needed to be moved. MR. SHORT WAS A MOBILE HOME MOVER. The landlord, Mr. Lemons, stated (and passed a POLYGRAPH that he witnessed this), that Bowman was upset with a mobile home mover and said he was going to have to KILL the mover who ripped him off. The mobile home that Bowman lived in is ONE MILE from where Jennifer's body was found (thirty miles from the crime scene). After the murders, Bowman fled to Canada. He said it was to retire and said he had prepared this move for MANY MONTHS. When Bowman was captured, he was living above a CAR REPAIR GARAGE. Nobody, unless a diehard, obsessive NASCAR fan, would retire, with much preparation, to live above the sounds of air-ratchets and revving motors. He had it more peaceful in his little trailer of horrors out in the country. Nobody, especially opportunistic, depraved child molesters are going to TIME a triple murder to when a little country bumpkin decides to retire. They would not be able to fish that info without raising a red flag on themselves. There was a map found in the trailer with the general location of the Short's home marked with an X. Nobody would go to that kind of trouble to pin the blame on an old man who quietly lived alone on a country road, in a non-descript mobile home. The quiet old man probably paid some younger guy to walk in the house and kill the Shorts. Bowman left no physical evidence because he was probably sitting in his idling van outside. The hired killer (and there are some low bastards in Rockingham County who'd do it for forty dollars), probably took Jennifer as a bonus to himself because there was no way for Bowman to object. The girl was probably taken to a secondary location (not Bowman's trailer) and used like a dishrag. They took the child and dumped her off a bridge in an area Bowman was familiar with. This is why Bowman cannot be tied to it by physical evidence. Despite his humble appearance, he steadfastly denied his accusers a confession, because, I believe, he felt the crime was his right to execute. Some people actually think that way. It all adds up to Bowman and his well crafted lies, nobody he would be associated with is smart enough to do this without eventually bragging or being exposed. :woohoo:

[Bobbisangel]

If Bowman was planning to retire to Canada why was he moving his mobile? It isn't cheap to move a mobile...you have to hire a crew to take it apart...clean up the lot it was on..and put it back together. And then you have the actual movers who come in when the mobile is ready to be moved. That is the way they do it here anyway. Wonder why he didn't just sell it instead.

I hope they check ole Joseph Duncan out too. Can't hurt anything. If the landlord took a poly and passed then he must have been telling the truth. It probably is Bowman or someone he paid. Hope someone pays for taking 3 lives. That poor little girl. Wonder if they have checked out the sex offenders in that area?

[stevie]

The dispute with Bowman and Lemons was the future ownership of the trailer. Lemons (and I know this because he screwed me on an engine deal) is a crook. I'm sure he lowballed Bowman because the trailer was already in place. If I remember it right, Bowman sold the trailer to another man for a better price. Bowman needed it moved off Lemon's property, this is one of many reasons it is so highly coincidental since Mr. Short was a mobile home mover. I wish the tight-lipped LE would at least give their reasoning behind not indicting Bowman. I realize the technical part of it, but is there ANYTHING they have on him as possible proof? :behindbar

[mic730]

Stevie were almost neighbors.
I thought a grand jury declined to indict Bowman.
give their reasoning behind not indicting Bowman. I realize the technical part of it, but is there ANYTHING they have on him as possible proof? :behindbar

[stevie]

true. that was in the beginning. I'm speaking of the consensus of knowledge about this case to this day, what points at Bowman and what does not? :liar:

[mic730]

I would love to know what they have and don't have. Bowman is still in the area I beleive - does not apper he is too worried.
I still lean towards Bowman.

[jblfelines]

Until little Shasta was found people were all speculating on who wanted to kill the Groene family. They focused on was it drugs or family violence and we find it was a low life stalker who just stalks and then goes for the kill for no reason. We know he will kill a whole family just to get children. We now know he killed before. We know he is connected to the Martinez boy. I still feel he should be checked out for the Short case.

They missed the fingerprint connection with the Martinez boy at first so now they need to check all prints found in the Short case.

This scum bag, Duncan, is evil and I would put nothing past him. I say check it out and then if he didn't do it at least it would eliminate this possibility.

[stevie]

Notice how Bowman seems to only have answers to particular allegations. He never says "I can see why they would think it's me", or, " I've read all the info myself and I sit up day and night putting the pieces together," etc. He answers only about the things he's been accused of. If it were me, and I was being accused, I would be pitching a ***** about the whole thing and threatening to sue for false arrest and detainment. He even said he called a mobile home mover in Eden (NC) and forgot which one. How many are there in this small town? Would he not substantiate the claim by calling the one or two movers here to validate his assertion? This evil, redneck, murdering bastard is guilty as hell. He knows there's no physical proof and he simply is clever enough to know what to say and claims "old man memory loss" on specifics.This Joseph Duncan would've never dumped the body where it was found. It wasn't even a good spot. It is way off the main highway and is very close to Bowman's address at that time. Quit speculating on Duncan and bring it back to this lying, redneck murderer who only answers what is asked. :loser:

[mysteriew]

Notice how Bowman seems to only have answers to particular allegations. He never says "I can see why they would think it's me", or, " I've read all the info myself and I sit up day and night putting the pieces together," etc. He answers only about the things he's been accused of. If it were me, and I was being accused, I would be pitching a ***** about the whole thing and threatening to sue for false arrest and detainment. He even said he called a mobile home mover in Eden (NC) and forgot which one. How many are there in this small town? Would he not substantiate the claim by calling the one or two movers here to validate his assertion? This evil, redneck, murdering bastard is guilty as hell. He knows there's no physical proof and he simply is clever enough to know what to say and claims "old man memory loss" on specifics.This Joseph Duncan would've never dumped the body where it was found. It wasn't even a good spot. It is way off the main highway and is very close to Bowman's address at that time. Quit speculating on Duncan and bring it back to this lying, redneck murderer who only answers what is asked. :loser:

Bowman may very well be the guilty party, but LE has been unable to find enough evidence to arrest him. And from reading in other cold cases- one of the worst things LE can do is focus on a suspect (with insufficient proof) and exclude all others simply because they think another suspect did it. Many cases have gone unsolved for many years, because of that. And when proof was finally obtained- the guilty party wasn't their original suspect.
Until they have enough proof to arrest someone for a case, they should continue to look at other suspects just to make sure they don't miss something important.

[mysteriew]

Today marks three years since Michael and Mary Short were shot and killed in their home in Oak Level, Va.. Their 9-year-old daughter, Jennifer, was abducted from the house that same night: Aug. 15, 2002.

Authorities won't say whether they are closer to solving the case than they were a year ago.

But about three months ago, investigators began a complete review of the case, said Kevin Foust, supervisory agent for the FBI's Roanoke, Va., office. They have been poring over volumes of information dating to the start of the investigation and have reinterviewed some people.
http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050815/NEWSREC0101/508150306/1001/NEWSREC0201

[stevie]

Let's don't let it die. Pray, think, ask, create. It seems to be slipping away . . .

[Bobbisangel]

Let's don't let it die. Pray, think, ask, create. It seems to be slipping away . . .


I hope that this case is solved. You would think that there would have been evidence left at the home...something. Didn't they find any finger prints or anything at all? Was this family related to you stevie? If not, did you know them? No killer should get away. This family deserves justice and I hope they catch whoever did this.

[stevie]

As a child, I was kidnapped, tied to a tree and set on fire. This happened within ten miles of where they found Jennifer's body. I remember how horrified I felt as this was happening. I'm sure she felt similar feelings to mine. I was lucky to have my assailant captured, she may not be as lucky. I want to say that as a result of being pushed to the brink of eternity, I am sensitive to this case and I feel strongly that Bowman did it. His attitude resembles the attitude of my assailant in court. He was without conscience and fell asleep during the proceedings. I've yet to hear Bowman say he is sorry for what happened to the Short family, it's all about him. That's either a sign of ignorance or a guilty man thinking only of himself.

[Bobbisangel]

As a child, I was kidnapped, tied to a tree and set on fire. This happened within ten miles of where they found Jennifer's body. I remember how horrified I felt as this was happening. I'm sure she felt similar feelings to mine. I was lucky to have my assailant captured, she may not be as lucky. I want to say that as a result of being pushed to the brink of eternity, I am sensitive to this case and I feel strongly that Bowman did it. His attitude resembles the attitude of my assailant in court. He was without conscience and fell asleep during the proceedings. I've yet to hear Bowman say he is sorry for what happened to the Short family, it's all about him. That's either a sign of ignorance or a guilty man thinking only of himself.


No wonder you feel so strongly about this case. I'm so sorry that you had to go through such a horrible thing when you were young. Thank God you lived through it and thank God the monster who did that to you is in prison. Well I'm glad that this family has someone like you for their advocate.

You are probably right and the monster in this case is Bowman. He probably thinks that he is home free. Let's hope not.

[mysteriew]

I am glad they are relooking at the case. Hopefully, they will come up with something they missed or reconnect with something that was said with newer info and come up with something. It is very frustrating to watch a case sit there, unsolved. Esp. a case where there is a kid involved. In this case there was an entire family murdered and that makes it so much worse.

[stevie]

The guy who did that to me is now free from prison. He lives about six miles from me in Axton, Virginia. He got 38 1/2 years and served about 18. He is now a major cocaine dealer in that neck of the woods. His name is Marcellus Murphy. He is black and is 55 years old. I hope this'll trickle through the grapevine and do him in for good. I know people who've bought drugs from him and they were even dumb enough to let me know it.

If vigilante justice was in vogue, I'd put a gun in Bowman's mouth and give him three seconds to fess up. I know that I know that I know he is guilty as hell.

[mic730]

Stevie from Salem in my neck of the woods.
When I think about this case it chills me everytime.
I am frustrated and saddened this is still open.

[Bobbisangel]

The guy who did that to me is now free from prison. He lives about six miles from me in Axton, Virginia. He got 38 1/2 years and served about 18. He is now a major cocaine dealer in that neck of the woods. His name is Marcellus Murphy. He is black and is 55 years old. I hope this'll trickle through the grapevine and do him in for good. I know people who've bought drugs from him and they were even dumb enough to let me know it.

If vigilante justice was in vogue, I'd put a gun in Bowman's mouth and give him three seconds to fess up. I know that I know that I know he is guilty as hell.


I don't understand why that man was ever let out of prison. When they give a person a certain length of a sentence that person should have to serve that length of time...it is just total bullchit. That is one of the many things that is wrong with our judicial system.

In places considered real redneck... backwoods justice is still popular. No one ever finds the person or what happened to them. There is an area up my way where it is all country....backwoods...and at times they have their own way of metting out justice. If our judicial system doesn't get a makeover sometime soon people will start taking justice into their own hands. That is how I feel about domestic violence. A protection order isn't worth the paper it is written on.....and it doesn't stop a bullet. In a lot of situations it ends up being your life or theirs. Better their life then yours that is lost.

I hope that Mr. Murphy gets what he deserves one of these days. So now he is out ruining the lives of others through drugs this time. Doesn't LE know about his dealing? How can you stand knowing he lives that close to you after what he did to you? What made LE think he wouldn't do that to another child? Just bizarre.

[mysteriew]

The guy who did that to me is now free from prison. He lives about six miles from me in Axton, Virginia. He got 38 1/2 years and served about 18. He is now a major cocaine dealer in that neck of the woods. His name is Marcellus Murphy. He is black and is 55 years old. I hope this'll trickle through the grapevine and do him in for good. I know people who've bought drugs from him and they were even dumb enough to let me know it.

If vigilante justice was in vogue, I'd put a gun in Bowman's mouth and give him three seconds to fess up. I know that I know that I know he is guilty as hell.

Just a thought. Have you ever considered a drug tip hotline?

[SewingDeb]

The guy who did that to me is now free from prison. He lives about six miles from me in Axton, Virginia. He got 38 1/2 years and served about 18. He is now a major cocaine dealer in that neck of the woods. His name is Marcellus Murphy. He is black and is 55 years old. I hope this'll trickle through the grapevine and do him in for good. I know people who've bought drugs from him and they were even dumb enough to let me know it.

If vigilante justice was in vogue, I'd put a gun in Bowman's mouth and give him three seconds to fess up. I know that I know that I know he is guilty as hell.

Stevie, I am so sorry to hear about what happened to you. I did a google search on Marcellus Murphy and found this one (Marcellus A. Murphy, 19) who is too young to be the one you are talking about, but he lit his girlfriend on fire:
http://mesh.medill.northwestern.edu/mnschicago/archives/2004/06/jury_still_deli.html

Could this guy be related, possibly even his son?

BTW: I am not sure what to think of Bowman, but I know I did think he was guilty when he was first a suspect. I lived not all that far away in North Carolina when this case hit the media.

[stevie]

Sewing Deb,


I saw the same Murphy on Google. Can you believe two people with the same name and at the same time (19) in their lives, lit someone on fire? This is what a lot of people don't understand. Some people are picked on heavily by Satan and he has messed with me my whole life. The normalcies of life: brick homes, mother's apron, cartoons, seems to portray things as safe and innocent. I know that the devil has it in for me. If I had time, I'd name 5000 things that one can see if they look hard enough.

As far as the drug hotline: I told a cop in Eden about this guy and he said not to worry.

If I took matters into my own hands regarding him, the ACLU and Tree Huggers for Arsonists and the NAACP would string me by the nads. All signs would point to me. I won't give them the pleasure of slamming the cell on me as they wallow in hypocrisy.

I will not allow myself to be incarcerated for the sake of this worthless man. I am disfigured from the fire and it has dented my social confidence and affects the way people treat me.

It is better to find my own joy and replace the malice with an appreciation of what is good. Putting Bowman behind bars would make me happier than anything I could think of at this point. The cops should pick him up every morning at 3:00 and ask him the same parrot training questions until he drools. There is a time to every purpose . . .

[SewingDeb]

Sewing Deb,


I saw the same Murphy on Google. Can you believe two people with the same name and at the same time (19) in their lives, lit someone on fire? This is what a lot of people don't understand. Some people are picked on heavily by Satan and he has messed with me my whole life. The normalcies of life: brick homes, mother's apron, cartoons, seems to portray things as safe and innocent. I know that the devil has it in for me. If I had time, I'd name 5000 things that one can see if they look hard enough.

As far as the drug hotline: I told a cop in Eden about this guy and he said not to worry.

If I took matters into my own hands regarding him, the ACLU and Tree Huggers for Arsonists and the NAACP would string me by the nads. All signs would point to me. I won't give them the pleasure of slamming the cell on me as they wallow in hypocrisy.

I will not allow myself to be incarcerated for the sake of this worthless man. I am disfigured from the fire and it has dented my social confidence and affects the way people treat me.

It is better to find my own joy and replace the malice with an appreciation of what is good. Putting Bowman behind bars would make me happier than anything I could think of at this point. The cops should pick him up every morning at 3:00 and ask him the same parrot training questions until he drools. There is a time to every purpose . . .

It really is wild that two with the same name commit the same crime at the same age. I was wondering if the younger could be the older's son or other member of the same family who was named after him. They don't live near each other, though.

I really hate that you have suffered in your life and I like your attitude about appreciating what is good. We should all do that more than we do.

Not a bad idea to keep the pressure on Bowman. I wonder why LE slacked off?

[stevie]

Those two pyromaniacs are not related. It's just unreal.


I am fine. One of the cutest, sweetest little girls on earth is not. This is about Jennifer.

LE has their hands tied by procedural restraint. They need something that'll hold up in court. It's strange how a weasly little fellow like Bowman is such a good liar. If he were smart, he'd voice some concern over the incident. Especially since he's "innocent."

Strange to me a man with his country hick values would choose to leave the hickest place on earth (Rockingham County) to tough it out (at his age) in Canada. And that lakeside location! Yeah, right. He was above an auto shop hiding from the law.

I feel so inept, as the law and her relatives must feel, to not be able to find a way to nail the bastard. Vigilante justice just may take care of him some day. If I found out I had a terminal disease, I'd go to him that second. I hate to see her family hurt this badly.

[stevie]

At this point, I believe the only way to solve this case is to increase the reward money to 100,000.00 Maybe this could be raised with equity guarantees from her relative's homes. I believe the public would help to reimburse the family if this worked.


I believe two people committed this crime, Bowman and his accomplice. :slap: There is a bit of info out there that an amount like that could buy. Money talks and bull**** gets no indictment. :banghead:

[stevie]

Does anyone know exactly where Bowman lives? I'd like to pay him a visit . . .:bang:

[stevie]

It's hard to believe anyone could get past the F.B.I., those guys are as smart as can be. It must be tough to have to have either D.N.A. or a confession. By a preponderance of the evidence, Bowman is as guilty as O.J.

God parted the Red Sea, I hope he does a modern miracle here. Pray.

[stevie]

I just wrote the F.B.I. in Greensboro with a theory of mine. If anything pans out, I'll let you guys know. Despite the loss of Jennifer, it really hurts my pride to know a redneck or two is getting away with this. It's like Hee-Haw at the Metropolitan Opera. :boohoo:

[curious_mom]

I have only been visiting the websleuth community since the dissapearance of Taylor Behl. I have learned a great deal about this community and honestly think there are some great websleuths here. I was really surprised when I went to do a search here for Jennifer Short, and found there were other's who remember this crime.

I am only about 10 minutes from where the deaths of Jennifer's parents were, and about 20 minutes from where her body was found. I have family that could almost throw a rock at the short house from their house. My husband and I were on one of the very first search teams dispatched to look for Jennifer after her parents were found. I also have a son that had played on a baseball team against Jennifer Short, and at that time, I was coaching little league sports, so I very well remember seeing this lovely girl. To say this has been a very troubling case in our area is an understatement, at least for those that I know.

I don't have any inside information about the case, only what has been in print, but I thought I would give a little inside information about our area in hopes that some of you that have been in this websleuthing community might can give me some information about other predators that you know about. This area is not that big of a community, but it is very spread out. The area that the father and mother were killed in was on one of our major highways, 220. This is a very heavily travelled road, and it also leads to the area where Jennifer's body was found. But given the fact of the exact location of Jennifer's body, it appears that someone would almost have to had knowledge of that particular area in order to have left her body there. It is not a place that someone would usually just happen upon as it is several turns off any main road.

The area that the short murders were committed in, has long been an area that has been known as the "moonshine capital of the world". We don't have that many serious crimes that are not solved, and our lead investigator, Kimmie Nester is a top notch detective who has worked this case from day one, and I'm sure will not rest until it is solved, however long it takes. I cannot say much about the investigators in Rockingham county where Jennifer's body was found. Our area has been one of a very high unemployment rate for several years due to most of our manufacturing being moved to Mexico and related places because of the North American Trade Agreement. We have been compared in recent years to having a crime rate equal to that of NY, if looking at demographics, and alot of criminals that are arrested here seem to have some link with NY.

I have always sort of thought that the main person of interest in this case "could" have something to do with it all, but I've never been fully sure. I think there were way to many concidences connecting him to the case, and no evidence to prove any of it. As of this time, we don't get many updates on the case, although there was recently a memorial bike ride in honor of Jennifer Short which was a huge success. I do know that there was alot of media attention in the beginning, but as the case became colder, so did the media attention, which is a shame. The family does not have the resources to keep this case in the limelight, or to place a big reward, because they mostly had to sell everything they could in order to pay for the funeral expenses.

Ok, now my questions. Can any of you think of any major criminal, serial killer, etc, that was anywhere near this area? I have researched serial killer Joseph Edward Duncan as a possibility, and really cannot find any sort of connection, as all of his activities seemed to be out west. I have also done some research on a child molester, John Dallas Lockhart, an ohio resident who was accused of raping a 4 month old baby. I cannot find any link to him either. These are the only 2 serial killers that come to my mind, but since I am new to all of this, I thought instead of reading through the tons of other cases discussed in this forum, I would start out by asking for a heads up from some of you.

I would love to bring this case back into the limelight and am trying to work on a website to try and get it back into the faces of people somehow. I don't think it is an unsolvable case, I just think it lost it's attraction at the early stages to most of the media, and for that reason alone, no new information has been forthcoming. This is a case that is so different to follow. The killing of 2 parents, the abduction and killing of a little girl, no evidence of burglery, the cutting of a phone line so no calls could be placed during the crimes. No real suspects, and really, we don't know if this was a killing to abduct a little girl or just a random act that took it's own turn of events and led to Jennifer's abduction and killing. It just doesn't follow any certain patten of any other crimes that I have been looking at.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and any leads to possible other serial killier or well know pedifiles would be greatly appreciated. I intend to spend a great deal of time looking into this whole case to see if I can find anything that might give it a reason to come back into the limelight.

This is a link that provides information about where exactly highway 220 runs thru and to, which might help with your memory of known criminals in any of these areas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Highway_220#Major_cities

[gatetrekker44]

Joseph Duncan-he is known to have been a avid scuba diver-and evidently during the time frame of the Short murders there was some sort of scuba-related show in VA at one of the bigger venues in the area. And the fact that the person who had evidently bailed Duncan out before lives in FL and is (possibly) a pediatrician-what a scary thought!

I live in Guilford co-and I too, have done a lot of research into the case-and I sure wish I could find out the caliber of gun used to shoot the Short parents and compare to the gun found with Duncan.

We'll just keep on posting our info as we get it-but you are NOT alone in wanting a good, solid break in this case!


Bring Jennifer, Adrianna, and Maura home!

BOYCOTT ARUBA!!!!

[stevie]

curious mom,


What child molester would murder two sleeping adults to take a child from a house? He had no idea what he would run into. The motive, according to common sense, had to be revenge. No money taken. Child butchered. This was not spontaneous. How could a serial molester know the logistics of finding two adults in separate sleeping areas and then "luck" upon the child? He went in there to murder out of anger. The completion of the act was to slaughter the child. It may sound ignorant and spiteful, but anyone who believes someone was smart enough to orchestrate this crime by knowing the logistics of who slept where, how far apart, etc., is not looking at it from a criminal's perspective.

Garrison Bowman had cause to commit this crime. He fled to Canada. Jennifer's body was found within a mile of where he lived. I know this isn't a new perspective, but he and a probable accomplice pulled this off and have lied well enough to not be indicted. This crime was dastardly, diabolical. A child molester would've stopped with the act and shot or choked the child. She was cut to pieces. A molester molests for gratification, how many respond in a way that could possibly get them caught? This was overkill, a vendetta. He did it, he knows it, the law knows it, God knows it. This was a crime of rage, a crime of self-righteousness. A random pedophile would've dumped her body close to her home, not 30 miles away, in a small pond off many country roads within a mile of Garrison Storm "murderer" Bowman.

[Kathleen]

Well..isn't that basically what Duncan did with the Groene family, except that everybody was awake..but he was outnumbered..had been watching the place..took two children..Killed one of them..He definately has a criminal mind! Kathleen

[gatetrekker44]

there are other indications that this was not a "rage" killing-first, the fact that the phone lines were cut-someone in a rage would not have taken the time to do this. Second, we know that Duncan watched his targets for days thru binoculars-it is not inconcieveable that he saw Jennifer in her yard and decided to make her a victim. The fact that the parents were shot evidently while asleep also fits the pattern that Jennifer herself was the intended target-a "rage" killer would have simply killed her in the home with the parents and left her there. I fear she was removed from the home for the purpose of sexual assault-why else take the chance on someone spotting her with an individual other than her family?


Bring Jennifer, Adrianna, and Maura home!

Boycott Aruba!

[stevie]

Gate,


With all due respect, and this is a cynical statement, is Bowman not sensational enough for you? I know he's old and ugly and looks like a coal miner from hell, but whomever did this chose to do it at night, cut the lines, covered their tracks. They could still be in a rage and yet sly enough to do it with the least amount of probability of getting caught. According to your logic, the person who did it should've just walked in at daylight and shot everyone up.

Reread all the facts and you'll see that Duncan was highly unlikely to have been ripped off by needing a trailer moved during that time.

[docwho3]

Edited to add:Oops I just realized this got posted in the information & support area by accident - sorry. It should by rights be posted in missing/located case discussion or in cold cases perhaps.
there are other indications that this was not a "rage" killing-first, the fact that the phone lines were cut-someone in a rage would not have taken the time to do this. Second, we know that Duncan watched his targets for days thru binoculars-it is not inconcieveable that he saw Jennifer in her yard and decided to make her a victim. The fact that the parents were shot evidently while asleep also fits the pattern that Jennifer herself was the intended target-a "rage" killer would have simply killed her in the home with the parents and left her there. I fear she was removed from the home for the purpose of sexual assault-why else take the chance on someone spotting her with an individual other than her family?


Bring Jennifer, Adrianna, and Maura home!

Boycott Aruba!Without commenting on who did, and who did not, do the deed:
You make some very valid points that should not be overlooked. It has been proven by killiers like J. Duncan that in some cases molester/killers will, and do, kill whole households to obtain their child victems. I haven't read much about the case so I can only comment on the few posts I have recently seen.

As to rage or not rage: I agree this does not sound like an unthinking sort of rage thing but at the same time I can see where it could possibly have been an anger related thing. But you did bring out the very duncanesque pattern to this crime. And that in a way brings up a couple of questions that have nagged at me concerning duncan's crimes. I am not convinced that in each case he needed to actually stalk a home for days before doing a deed. Once he had a plan that was tried & true he could put it into action at a moments notice if he found a home that met his needs in terms of having stumbled into a home with no nearby witnesses at the moment or one that was isolated enough to make the deed doable. (I actually have a couple of ideas I am working on as to how some victems were chosen.)

In this case though, which may have been done by someone other than duncan for all I know, I have to wonder if this method (of killing the rest of the household to abduct one or more children) is a method that easily springs to mind for certan types of killers or is this some pattern passed from con to con in prisons?

This crime sounds like it came already full blown to the scene in the mind of the killer. To me that says that either it was not his first crime using this method or that he got this "murder template" from some other source (from prison or someone that had been there? From newspapers?) and was convinced it was doable.

You also mentioned the fact that duncan knew a pediatrician that moved to florida and I will try to send you a private post with some possible thoughts about that later as I am not convinced it has anything to do with this particular case but it has some interesting possibilities elsewhere.

[curious_mom]

curious mom,
She was cut to pieces.
I have never heard, or read anything that said this about Jennifer. She was found when dogs were eating at or playing with parts of a scalp and the owner of the dogs informed police, and then they found parts of her body. After lying in that little pond area for a month, I would suspect that she would have been in pieces due to nature, the dogs, and other animals. But cut to pieces?

Also, I know the concensus is that Bowman had something to do with this. But don't you find it a little odd that so many clues were found leading to Bowman, ie: maps, info about trailor being moved, he suppossedly told someone he was going to kill the trailor mover, etc, and that he hasn't been at least sent before a grand jury to try and get an indictment?

I don't know Bowman, but from what I have seen of him and heard of him, he is a rugged, backwoods kind of person. Pulling off a crime of this nature by a person such as Bowman would not be an easy thing to do IMO without forensic evidence being left of some sort, I just don't think he was that smart. I'm not ready to buy into the fact of an accomplice either, because of the way the crime happened. Mr. Short shot outside, while asleep, on his couch, somehow tells me someone knew he'd be there, and he was an easy target without waking up the rest of the household. After getting rid of Mr. Short, it would have been alot easier getting into the house for Ms. Short and Jennifer.

I agree that the area of Jennifer's remains being found near Mr. Bowman's property is highly suspect, but if Mr. Bowman was responsible, why would he take the remains close to his property, why draw that kind of attention to himself when it is very likely that he would have never become a suspect at all given the fact that he had no other ties to the Short family.

IMO, someone was setting up Mr. Bowman for the fall. The fact that I'm asking about other serial predators is only another angle I want to look at further.

[docwho3]

For those who may be interested:
I looked and found a place in J. duncan section for case discussion of possible connection to him as a suspect.

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25975

And for just a discussion on the Short case itself there should be a thread somewhere also. I just haven't gotten that far yet as I skim through posts.

[docwho3]

Young girl was abducted & killed and her family killed was killed and left behind in their home. To date (November/2005) the killer has not yet been brought to justice which means he could be repeating the offense elsewhere.

Here are some info links to help get us started:


http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/08/16/missing.girl.virginia/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,64840,00.html
http://216.12.215.215/users/genxgrl/index.cgi?board=Jennifer_Short&action=display&num=1095013284
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/12/national/main525400.shtml
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,60694,00.html
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=10&num=653&printer=1
http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0208/20/se.01.html
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=74112&ran=135783

A link to the J. duncan (serial killer)forum
http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25975

[stevie]

How did Duncan then know to dump her body near Bowman's home? Answer: he didn't. You folks need to drive there and see how reclusive it is and then keep speculating that Duncan was scuba diving, broke in a house, killed two and then one later. He drove 30 miles south to a hard to find pond and dumped the body. He then put a map of the general location of the Short's house in Bowman trailer (knowing of course he wasn't there) and then put his tank and flippers back on and went swimming at Smith Mountain Lake. I say bull****.


Either Bowman or Gary Lemons or someone either of them hired did this. Period.
Duncan had no ties to these people or the area where Jennifer's body was found.

[docwho3]

Just so we don't get in trouble for posting case discussion in the information/support thread (which was once pointed out to me as being a no no)I have started a jennifer short thread in the cold case section. I hope it helps.

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31716

[curious_mom]

I appreciate your doing this. I didn't know where to put my original post so I left it in the other site when I saw there were some people still posting about this case. I'll keep all postings here now :)

[Zman]

Just wanted to say good to see some still remember Jennifer and search for this killer.

Although there have been many brutal crimes this is the one that is responsible for the secruity system and gun I now have in my home.

[curious_mom]

Just wanted to say good to see some still remember Jennifer and search for this killer.

Although there have been many brutal crimes this is the one that is responsible for the secruity system and gun I now have in my home.
Our whole area has buzzed about this every since it happened, and it will not ever be forgotten. This kind of thing has never happened in our area before, and with the case not solved, nobody I know will forget this crime. I had a talk with my children when this happened that I didn't want to have with them until they were much older, but I guess it's always better to be safe than sorry.

I'm posting a link to almost every article written about the Short family murders for anybody who's interested.

http://p069.ezboard.com/fjazzyrosefrm48

[docwho3]

Our whole area has buzzed about this every since it happened, and it will not ever be forgotten. This kind of thing has never happened in our area before, and with the case not solved, nobody I know will forget this crime. I had a talk with my children when this happened that I didn't want to have with them until they were much older, but I guess it's always better to be safe than sorry.

I'm posting a link to almost every article written about the Short family murders for anybody who's interested.

http://p069.ezboard.com/fjazzyrosefrm48
What a good idea!

[docwho3]

Our whole area has buzzed about this every since it happened, and it will not ever be forgotten. This kind of thing has never happened in our area before, and with the case not solved, nobody I know will forget this crime. I had a talk with my children when this happened that I didn't want to have with them until they were much older, but I guess it's always better to be safe than sorry.

I'm posting a link to almost every article written about the Short family murders for anybody who's interested.

http://p069.ezboard.com/fjazzyrosefrm48
I recently was reading at the site you linked to and in checking one of the many source sites cited I nnoticed this "One of the many leads investigators chased down placed Jennifer Short in Rockingham County, N.C., overnight Sunday. That one also proved to be unfounded, Cassell said."
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082002.htm

Since I think this was later where she turned out to actaully be found (source link (www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,64840,00.html)) I would wonder what was the source of that tip? Sounds like someone knew very well what they were talking about.

[docwho3]

Ok here are some interesting facts that seem to point in a certain direction:
Henry County Sheriff H. Frank Cassell will not say if paternity tests showed that Michael Short is the father of 9-year-old Jennifer Short.
"We knew the paternity about 10 days ago" when the department received results of initial DNA tests, Cassell said Friday. "That is one of the last things we would release.
" ... We're not saying for the simple reason it could be extremely important in this case," Cassell said, according to The Associated Press (AP).
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s090802.htm
I am not sure if the above part will turn out to be only a red herring but I include it for sake of being thorough.
Pictures of Mary Short, taken in the early 1990s around the time she worked at Pluma Inc., were released in the hope of jarring someone's memory of her. She is shown at a Pluma sewing machine, and also when she was pregnant.
"I believe it's generated some good response," said Capt. Kimmy Nester of the Henry County Sheriff's Office.
For instance, one caller told investigators that Mary was referred to as "Little Mary" while she worked at Pluma.
"It's little details like that that we need," Nester said.
Nester especially hopes that someone will remember an incident that occurred in 1992 or 1993, when a man apparently harassed Mary Short at the Pluma plant. The man was asked to leave the parking lot of the Pluma plant in Bowles Industrial Park on several occasions. He entered the plant one time, and Pluma officials removed him from the property.
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s092202.htm
Ok so where was this plant she worked at in the past when she became pregnant? I am not certain because the company seems to have more than one plant. But the company began to lay off many employees & to close some plants. So its possible people might be given the chance to be transferred in some cases. In any case there seems to be or have been a plant in Eden,NC and that is located in what county? - Rockingham county. source link (http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/ncnp/rocki.htm)
Pluma, an Eden, N.C., clothing company with significant operations in Martinsville, is cutting 21 percent of its work force, which totaled 2,400 people a year ago. Pluma also will close a plant in Eden...
source link (www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2930&purchase_type=ITM&item_id=0286-6611453&word=Activewear_Maker_Pluma)The site where the remains were found on Grogan Road is a few hundred feet from a fairly well-traveled street, River Road. It is four turns off U.S. 220.
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s092902.htm
Map link to Eden,NC
http://www.city-data.com/city/Eden-North-Carolina.html
When I look at the map & see U.S. 220 and Eden and then I think of all the above info about a man harrassing Mrs. Short when she worked in a Plum inc. plant and then I see Plum has a plant in eden etc., I have to say this looks like something that needs looking into indepth and I suspect L.E. is doing just that.
I don't know if the paternity question is actually connected to the case and, as I said above, I only included it that bit of info to be thorough. And in case anyone asks, it certainly was not meant to infer anything against the victem family.
A biologic father lurking in the shadowy background of this case or even just some nut who thought he might be Jennifer's father would be an important piece of info to be aware of.

[mysteriew]

For instance, one caller told investigators that Mary was referred to as "Little Mary" while she worked at Pluma.
"It's little details like that that we need," Nester said.

That statement is like a hint that they are looking for some specific information. I wonder how many people called her "little Mary" or who started calling her "little Mary"?

[docwho3]

That statement is like a hint that they are looking for some specific information. I wonder how many people called her "little Mary" or who started calling her "little Mary"?
I took it to mean they are certainly looking for info pertaining to her time at the factory. But your point is certainly possible too.

[curious_mom]

"Pluma, an Eden, N.C., clothing company with significant operations in Martinsville, is cutting 21 percent of its work force, which totaled 2,400 people a year ago. Pluma also will close a plant in Eden...
source link (http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2930&purchase_type=ITM&item_id=0286-6611453&word=Activewear_Maker_Pluma)"

Pluma filed bankruptcy and eventually closed all of it's plants sometime near September 99: http://www.timesizing.com/dwn9909.htm I'm not saying that the harrassment of Mary at Pluma didn't have anything to do with the slayings, just that the plants closed and I don't think LE ever found out who this person who harrassed Mary was. If they did, they never revealed it.

Although I'm having trouble finding the article, it was determined that Michael Short was indeed the biological father of Jennifer Short. If I find the article, I'll post the link later.

Anybody know the poster Stevie in the previous site that I was posting on concerning Jennifer Short. Although he seemed to be sure GB was guilty of the Short murders, I would like to see more of his responses.

[docwho3]

"Pluma, an Eden, N.C., clothing company with significant operations in Martinsville, is cutting 21 percent of its work force, which totaled 2,400 people a year ago. Pluma also will close a plant in Eden...
source link (http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2930&purchase_type=ITM&item_id=0286-6611453&word=Activewear_Maker_Pluma)"

Pluma filed bankruptcy and eventually closed all of it's plants sometime near September 99: http://www.timesizing.com/dwn9909.htm I'm not saying that the harrassment of Mary at Pluma didn't have anything to do with the slayings, just that the plants closed and I don't think LE ever found out who this person who harrassed Mary was. If they did, they never revealed it.

Although I'm having trouble finding the article, it was determined that Michael Short was indeed the biological father of Jennifer Short. If I find the article, I'll post the link later.

Anybody know the poster Stevie in the previous site that I was posting on concerning Jennifer Short. Although he seemed to be sure GB was guilty of the Short murders, I would like to see more of his responses.Edited to add note:I do remember reading that her mother tested as being her biologic mom but I did not see any article saying the results about the dad. If the L.E. wanted the dads results kept quiet I would be surprised (but only a little) to see it in the news anyway.
I am not certain that the person harrassing her was also the killer but I included the info to be thorough. On the surface there does seem to be a connection between the plants and the murder. Yes the plants may indeed have closed but if someone had lived in the area they may not have moved just because the plant closed. The killer may have just found another job and continued to live in the same area as before. Or if the killer may have been visiting family in the area sort of returning to his old stomping grounds.

GB the killer?:
As I remember reading the news articles a couple men or more got jail time for basically setting up GB by tipping L.E. with false information which caused limited resources and valuable time to be wasted which may have worked in the true killers favor. Still, if more evidence surfaces to point to G.B. I certainly won't hang on to other theories just to play a favorite. I feel, as I am sure you do also, that the main idea is for the killer to be caught whoever that is.

Without more msm (main stream media) info about the paternity I can't say it actually had anything to do with the crime but in my own mind I also can't yet rule it out. Maybe someone believed either that Jennifer was his daughter or maybe just felt that she should have been his daughter.

And I would still like to know what was done to follow up on that early tip that she was in Rockingham (which they first discounted) which is where she was eventually found.

From reading the news reports I get the feeling that L.E. has a few choice clues that they are not telling about. speculation:Maybe the killer left a note behind, something like "sorry little mary".

[curious_mom]

"Maybe someone believed either that Jennifer was his daughter or maybe just felt that she should have been his daughter."

That is exactly what the theory was when LE wouldn't discuss the paternity in the beginning. It was way later that they did indeed release the results of the paternity test that stated Michael Short was the biological father. Now, if I could just find that story to link to :(

[docwho3]

"Maybe someone believed either that Jennifer was his daughter or maybe just felt that she should have been his daughter."

That is exactly what the theory was when LE wouldn't discuss the paternity in the beginning. It was way later that they did indeed release the results of the paternity test that stated Michael Short was the biological father. Now, if I could just find that story to link to :(Cool! keep looking for the link. And Thanks for taking the time to do so.

[curious_mom]

Ok, here is the link to the original story that discusses the possible Pluma connection:
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082702.htm, scroll down till you find "Investigators checking 1992 Pluma incident"

Original article that states Michael Short was indeed biological father of Jennifer Short: "He also apologized for not conclusively identifying Michael Short as the biological father of Jennifer until a Friday press conference at which the DNA test results were announced." Scroll down to story "Man held in Canada to be questioned"
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100602.htm (http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100602.htm)

[curious_mom]

I know I posted a link before that had alot of articles related to the murders of Michael and Mary Short, and the abduction and murder of their daughter Jennifer. The site that I got those links from had some sort of problem awhile back and may have lost some articles, so I have researched the archives of the Martinsville Bulletin, which is the most local newspaper in our area, that discusses the Short family murders and abduction and murder of Jennifer from day 1. The list is very long, but noteworty for anybody who wants to go back to the beginning of the investigation. These are ONLY links to our local newspaper. I'm sure there are alot more articles in the Rockingham County area newspapers as well other links to CNN and other main stream media, but I'm not linking to those at this time. As time passed, and the Short investigation was kind of put on the backburner so to say, articles were not printed everyday so it will take alot longer to post those.

August 16, 2002: 4 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a081602.htm

August 18, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a081802.htm

August 19, 2002: 3 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a081902.htm

August 20, 2002: 3 articles and obituaries for Michael and Mary Short
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082002.htm

August 21, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082102.htm

August 22, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082202.htm

August 23, 2002:3 articles and followup obituaries:
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082302.htm

August 25,2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082502.htm

August 26, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082602.htm

August 27, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082702.htm

August 28, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082802.htm

August 29, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a082902.htm

August 30, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Aug%20'02/a083002.htm

September 1, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s090102.htm

September 2, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s090202.htm

September 4, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s090402.htm

September 5, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s090502.htm

September 6, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s090602.htm

September 8, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s090802.htm

September 13, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s091302.htm

September 15, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s091502.htm

September 16, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s091602.htm

September 17, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s091702.htm

September 20, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s092002.htm

September 22, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s092202.htm

September 26, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s092602.htm

September 27, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s092702.htm

[docwho3]

I know I posted a link before that had alot of articles related to the murders of Michael and Mary Short, and the abduction and murder of their daughter Jennifer. The site that I got those links from had some sort of problem awhile back and may have lost some articles, so I have researched the archives of the Martinsville Bulletin, which is the most local newspaper in our area, that discusses the Short family murders and abduction and murder of Jennifer from day 1. The list is very long, but noteworty for anybody who wants to go back to the beginning of the investigation. These are ONLY links to our local newspaper. I'm sure there are alot more articles in the Rockingham County area newspapers as well other links to CNN and other main stream media, but I'm not linking to those at this time. As time passed, and the Short investigation was kind of put on the backburner so to say, articles were not printed everyday so it will take alot longer to post those. . . .
Wow! Thanks for going to the trouble to post so many links. Good work! Hopefully I will one day see that article about the DNA testing relating the father. However, even if he was the true dad it does not in itself rule out that some one else thought he was the father nor does it rule out someone perhaps thinking that he should have beenthe father.

And it could be some sort of stalking related to the factory but not related to parentage at all. I am thinking that removing jennifer from the home probably meant that the killer wanted more time with her but didn't want to hang around the scene of the crime where his chances were higher of being caught redhanded. That could mean he wanted time to molest her but itmight also mean he wanted time to talk to her before finally deciding to kill her.

[curious_mom]

September 29, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s092902.htm

September 30, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s093002.htm

October 1, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100102.htm

October 2, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100202.htm

October 3, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100302.htm

October 4, 2002: 1 article:
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100402.htm

October 6, 2002: 4 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100602.htm

October 7, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100702.htm

October 8, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100802.htm

October 9, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100902.htm

October 10, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o101002.htm

October 13, 2002: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o101302.htm

October 15, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o101502.htm

October 18, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o101802.htm

October 20, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o102002.htm

October 23, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o102302.htm

October 24, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o102402.htm

October 31, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o103102.htm

[curious_mom]

"I am thinking that removing jennifer from the home probably meant that the killer wanted more time with her but didn't want to hang around the scene of the crime where his chances were higher of being caught redhanded. That could mean he wanted time to molest her but itmight also mean he wanted time to talk to her before finally deciding to kill her."
That is a theory that I really hadn't thought alot about, but I believe it is a good one!

I have emailed CNN's Nancy Grace, FOX's Greta, and our local newspaper to see if one or all of them will do updates on this story. We're hearing so much about all the new murder's and abductions these days, that sometimes I think they forget all about these old horrendous crimes that are still unsolved, and to me, this is one that should never have been forgotten. It's not that often that you have a story of this magnitude, much less for it to go unsolved for so long! I think the media plays alot into the discovery of new clues, but getting them to update old stories I guess doesn't get the ratings they need???

Any ideas on how to get this back in the MSM?

[docwho3]

That is a theory that I really hadn't thought alot about, but I believe it is a good one!

I have emailed CNN's Nancy Grace, FOX's Greta, and our local newspaper to see if one or all of them will do updates on this story. We're hearing so much about all the new murder's and abductions these days, that sometimes I think they forget all about these old horrendous crimes that are still unsolved, and to me, this is one that should never have been forgotten. It's not that often that you have a story of this magnitude, much less for it to go unsolved for so long! I think the media plays alot into the discovery of new clues, but getting them to update old stories I guess doesn't get the ratings they need???

Any ideas on how to get this back in the MSM?
I emailed one of the MSM that had previously reported on the story to ask if they would revisit the story. Perhaps others might do the same.

Also - Thank You for the kind message correcting my oversight.

For readers:Note:I have now read the link where L.E. explains why the DNA evidence of M. Short was not released earlier although I have a few problems with that answer.
I can accept tha DNA is not important to the case for the moment though and move on. Many thanks to curious mom for the hard work in tracking down this info and in her taking the time to point it out to me and all of us.
He also apologized for not conclusively identifying Michael Short as the biological father of Jennifer until a Friday press conference at which the DNA test results were announced.
"If the biological father, or the person who thought he was the biological father had Jennifer, I was afraid he would dispose of her. ... We have no other information that Mary Short was anything other than a lady," he said.
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Oct'02/o100602.htm

(There is also some misinformation about Gary Bowman legitimately reported in this article but which had flasley been reported to L.E. by a person who later was convicted of giving false info to L.E.)

[curious_mom]

November 1, 2002: 1 story
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Nov'02/n110102.htm

November 3, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Nov'02/n110302.htm

November 10, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Nov'02/n111002.htm

November 13, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Nov'02/n111302.htm

November 15, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Nov'02/n111502.htm

November 18, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Nov'02/n111802.htm

November 26, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Nov'02/n112602.htm

November 28, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Nov'02/n112802.htm

December 8, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Dec%20'02/d120802.htm

December 9, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Dec%20'02/d120902.htm

December 10, 2002: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Dec%20'02/d121002.htm

February 16, 2003: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2003/Feb%20'03/f021603.htm

March 13, 2003: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2003/March%20'03/m031303.htm

April 6, 2003: 2 articles
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2003/April%20'03/a040603.htm

April 10, 2003: 1 article
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2003/April%20'03/a041003.htm

[stevie]

I was pulled over tonight in Eden by a deputy for sitting in a parking lot too long. I was on the phone with my mom and was crying about some bad news I'd gotten today. I simply didn't want to pull up in front of the store and let the people see my humanity. Anyway, I took my cell phone and called the store to verify that they knew me and I had taken the liberty of talking in my vehicle in their parking lot because I go there every ****ing day. I handed the phone to the deputy and let the cashier verify that she knew me. This imbicile should've known it was my vehicle since it is brand new and I had been there earlier in the day.


Anyway, I took another liberty to ask him about the Jennifer Short case. He said it is worked on daily but that all the officials involved are sworn to secrecy about any form of speculation. I told him I would be willing to bet it was Bowman or Lemons and he smiled and said nothing. My point is, any further info on this will probably come from an actual indictment or a newspaper interviewing relatives and neighbors.

I wrote Allen Johnson, Editor of the editorial page of the Greensboro News and Record and asked him to send a reporter to the relatives and officials to keep the momentum and interest high. Maybe he will.

Even if we're sick or in deep depression, we are not a victim of whoever did this to the Shorts. Maybe God will lay a conviction on someone's heart to tell that one thing that'll bring all this to closure.

[docwho3]

Curious mom has posted some links for us to read. Thank you!

You seem to have read alot of them. Do you have any thoughts on the matter after having read all that?

[curious_mom]

I really don't think anybody is interested in this case anymore, and that's such a shame!

I have written letters to every media outlet I can think of, and have heard of, including all the top blogs who do criminal investigative stuff, and so far I've only got one person who sent back an email with a question, and then nothing else.

I was in the process of setting up a website about this case, but if I cannot get anybody interested in discussing the case, I'm not sure I'm going to go thru all the trouble to set that up.

I'm sure if the right people would get involved, and this case was brought back into the forefront like alot of the new cases are, maybe LE would get something more than they have already. It's such a shame that when a case goes cold, people lose interest. There is a person running around out there right now who murdered a whole family, and who knows when that person might strike again!

I did send an email to a private investigator this morning who is working on the Tara Grinstead case. Since he is a professional, my guess is he'd want to be paid for anything related to this case, but I haven't heard back from him so we'll see.

This is just so frustrating!!!

[docwho3]

I really don't think anybody is interested in this case anymore, and that's such a shame!

I have written letters to every media outlet I can think of, and have heard of, including all the top blogs who do criminal investigative stuff, and so far I've only got one person who sent back an email with a question, and then nothing else.

I was in the process of setting up a website about this case, but if I cannot get anybody interested in discussing the case, I'm not sure I'm going to go thru all the trouble to set that up.

I'm sure if the right people would get involved, and this case was brought back into the forefront like alot of the new cases are, maybe LE would get something more than they have already. It's such a shame that when a case goes cold, people lose interest. There is a person running around out there right now who murdered a whole family, and who knows when that person might strike again!

I did send an email to a private investigator this morning who is working on the Tara Grinstead case. Since he is a professional, my guess is he'd want to be paid for anything related to this case, but I haven't heard back from him so we'll see.

This is just so frustrating!!!
Keep hanging in there. Sooner or later justice will be done. In the meantime all we can each do is our best.

[curious_mom]

The investigator that I spoke about in my last post has contacted me asking for links about the case. Maybe, just maybe, I can get him to get involved.

Keep your fingers and toes and everything else crossed!:woohoo:

[docwho3]

The investigator that I spoke about in my last post has contacted me asking for links about the case. Maybe, just maybe, I can get him to get involved.

Keep your fingers and toes and everything else crossed!:woohoo:
Wow! Way to go! I hope it goes well.

[curious_mom]

I haven't heard anything else from the investigator that I had email contact with. He was given the address to all the links here, and a brief overview of the case, and now no contact with him at all.

This is so sad, seems nobody around, even the media will not try to revive anything to do with this case:banghead:

[mysteriew]

I really don't think anybody is interested in this case anymore, and that's such a shame!

I have written letters to every media outlet I can think of, and have heard of, including all the top blogs who do criminal investigative stuff, and so far I've only got one person who sent back an email with a question, and then nothing else.

I was in the process of setting up a website about this case, but if I cannot get anybody interested in discussing the case, I'm not sure I'm going to go thru all the trouble to set that up.

I'm sure if the right people would get involved, and this case was brought back into the forefront like alot of the new cases are, maybe LE would get something more than they have already. It's such a shame that when a case goes cold, people lose interest. There is a person running around out there right now who murdered a whole family, and who knows when that person might strike again!

I did send an email to a private investigator this morning who is working on the Tara Grinstead case. Since he is a professional, my guess is he'd want to be paid for anything related to this case, but I haven't heard back from him so we'll see.

This is just so frustrating!!!

I don't know of any blogs that work with cold cases. I think one is badly needed, to keep the crimes in the public eye. I have a theory that someone somewhere wants each case to be forgotten. So the more each case is publicized, the more people we could keep on edge, by pubically showing the cases aren't forgotten.

[T'sNana]

I just read this case today and wanted to see if there were any updates. I sure hope for a resolution in this case soon. Great work!

[stevie]

I say this to stir up any hope of finding the killer(s) of the Shorts. It seems like too much time has passed, there seems to be little interest in this.

Again, if common sense prevails, it has to be one of two people. Bowman or Lemons. Lemons was involved in another crime where a woman brought in a car to be crushed on his lot, it just happened to contain a body in the trunk.

Bowman had every reason to have committed this crime. He's just arrogant enough and stubborn enough to know what to not say.

It's a coin-flip, and there are no other options. Is it the finger pointer or the stubborn hick? I have a feeling LE knows...

[Shadow205]

Does anyone know if the Short family ever attended NASCAR races? I know that they lived fairly near the track in Martinsville, VA. I am working on something involving Jack Wiley & Glenna Faye Marshall. See the thread http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35588

[gatetrekker44]

Those of us who live in the area and post at places like Websleuths will NEVER let Jennifer and her family far from our minds and hearts. I live in Greensboro, NC, and I have posted several x about these murders-especially after Duncan was captured in the Groene case. Why, you ask? Because it occurred to me that in some respects, there were unsettling ?? that bugged me after his capture.

1. That Duncan staked out the Groene family-and I wondered if something similiar happened in Jennifer's case.

2. The cut phone lines at the Short residence-didn't Duncan do the same at the Groene home?

3. That Duncan was a scuba entheusiast and that there was a scuba event at large venue in the area around the same time frame.

4. My own belief is that Jennifer was the target all along-why else take the chance of removing her from the home at all?

I know that to date, no concrete evidence has surfaced to place Duncan in the area at the time of the murders-but I still have not seen an answer to a ?? I posed before-what was the caliber of the weapon Duncan was caught with; and what was the caliber of the weapon used in the Short murders?

Just my own meanderings-and any errors are my own!

[Yaya]

I still have not seen an answer to a ?? I posed before-what was the caliber of the weapon Duncan was caught with; and what was the caliber of the weapon used in the Short murders?This is all I could find in trying to answer your questions. I'm sure there could have been other weapons found on him besides the ones mentioned.

The Shorts are believed to have been killed by single .22-caliber gunshots to the head. http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Sept'02/s090802.htm

Wolfinger said Duncan is believed to have killed Brenda Groene, her boyfriend, Mark McKenzie, and her older son, Slade. Their bodies, bound and beaten, were found at their home in Coeur d'Alene in mid-May.
http://news.usti.net/home/news/cn/?/news.crime.murders/2/wed/ah/Uus-missingkids.RmFE_Fl7.html

Convicted sex offender Joseph Edward Duncan bragged to his 8-year-old captive during more than six weeks on the run, telling her how he used a shotgun and hammer to kill her family after staking out their home for days, court documents show.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=MOLESTOR

[Shadow205]

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35588&page=3 Check out my post #64 in that thread.

[curious_mom]

I just read this case today and wanted to see if there were any updates. I sure hope for a resolution in this case soon. Great work!
We haven't had any updates on this case in a VERY long time, although LE states they still have many investigators on the case following many leads, also, still awaiting some forensics testing.

[curious_mom]

Does anyone know if the Short family ever attended NASCAR races? I know that they lived fairly near the track in Martinsville, VA. I am working on something involving Jack Wiley & Glenna Faye Marshall. See the thread http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35588
Although this family lived only about 14-20 minutes from the Martinsville Speedway, there was never any mention about them going there to the races. It's possible I guess, but the biggest majority of us locals would rather stay home and watch it on TV, as they really are the better seats.

[curious_mom]

Those of us who live in the area and post at places like Websleuths will NEVER let Jennifer and her family far from our minds and hearts. I live in Greensboro, NC, and I have posted several x about these murders-especially after Duncan was captured in the Groene case. Why, you ask? Because it occurred to me that in some respects, there were unsettling ?? that bugged me after his capture.

1. That Duncan staked out the Groene family-and I wondered if something similiar happened in Jennifer's case.

2. The cut phone lines at the Short residence-didn't Duncan do the same at the Groene home?

3. That Duncan was a scuba entheusiast and that there was a scuba event at large venue in the area around the same time frame.

4. My own belief is that Jennifer was the target all along-why else take the chance of removing her from the home at all?

I know that to date, no concrete evidence has surfaced to place Duncan in the area at the time of the murders-but I still have not seen an answer to a ?? I posed before-what was the caliber of the weapon Duncan was caught with; and what was the caliber of the weapon used in the Short murders?

Just my own meanderings-and any errors are my own!
There have been many references to Duncan maybe being involved in this case, and if I remember correctly, someone in Websleuths and or the "Court TV" message boards sent their 2 cents worth about this to local LE. But there has never been any mention of it in our local news concering this allegation.

As far as I could tell, the closest info about Duncan maybe being involved came from the fact that he had a family member, maybe a sister, who resided in NC, not to far from the Short location in VA. Also, Duncan was suppossedly involved in that online game of GPS hunting of clues (sorry, don't know what the game is called), and may have been as close as the NC area where his sister lived.

The biggest reason I think he was not involved, was because of the location where they found little Jennifer's body. Although it was located off one of our major highways, your everyday tom dick and harry wouldn't just happen upon this location. If you didn't know where it was, it would have been very hard for a stranger to find because it was several turns off the main highway and not very highly travelled.

But I guess anything is possible when it comes to this case, since nothing else they've investigated has seemed to pan out.

I think the majority of us in the area feel as if Jennifer were the intended target, since she is the one who was kidnapped, not just shot at her home like her parents, unless of course the target was one of the parents and in shooting them, little Jennifer woke up and the animal/animals that killed her parents just couldn't decide what to do with her at first, and later decided she, too, had to be done away with???

MOO

[Shadow205]

Curious-mom, I know that there was a POI in the Short case. Was he ruled out or is he still being considered? What are the thoughts of local people as to his involvement?



Although this family lived only about 14-20 minutes from the Martinsville Speedway, there was never any mention about them going there to the races. It's possible I guess, but the biggest majority of us locals would rather stay home and watch it on TV, as they really are the better seats.

[less0305]

Curious-mom, I know that there was a POI in the Short case. Was he ruled out or is he still being considered? What are the thoughts of local people as to his involvement?

A POI, who lived in this area, had some possible tie with the family through a mobile home deal with his landlord and who left N.C. for Canada shortly after the murders, was brought back from Canada and appeared at a grand jury regarding the Short murders....but he has never been charged. He is a bit of a local nut - and had a reputation of being nutty with a bad temper before this murder took place. Still and all, I just don't think he is the person who did this. I think a lot of people in this area do believe he is the person responsible, but I'm not one of them. Supposedly he and his landlord had a deal on purchasing/selling a mobile home that fell through - the Short family's business was moving mobile homes - and some say he may have had contact with them to move the mobile home. Jennifer Short's body was found in N.C. in the county where this POI lived and she was found near property where this mobile home was located. So he definately knew the area and the rural location where Jennifer was later found. But so did the landlord that he had the hassle with over the mobile home. And believe me, he's not wrapped too tight either. The police were alerted to this guy by the landlord and the landlord told some tales about the guy, which I don't think ever truly panned out. Some may have, some did not. So why did the landlord guy try to point the finger elsewhere? That's always been the question nagging my brain.

[curious_mom]

I would really like to hear more of your thoughts on the Short case. The discussion has been moved to: http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31716 in order to follow the forums rules.

And hey, wow, I was talking just yesterday about this case with several people from another forum, and last night on the news we get info on the case. No new evidence, just info about a conviction for one of the people who gave false info to try and collect the reward money. Talk about Karma, lol

[curious_mom]

I don't think any info was ever proved about Bowman, the only POI who has been named. He now lives in another state, although LE states they know where he is if they need to get further info.

As far as Lemons, the landlord who was responsible for pointing the finger at Bowman, from what I hear, yeah, he's a nutcase too, and has long been accused of various crimes in his area. He has always interested me more as a POI than Bowman, just not something right there.

Last night, as I was listening to the news, wsls in Roanoke VA, they said theat one of the people responsible for giving false information to LE in order to collect the reward money, has been convicted. I've looked and looked and there is no link as of yet, so I can't give his name or the exact info. If they post the story, I will put it here. I'm interested in trying to get more info on this guy but I can't recall his name, as I was half asleep.

A POI, who lived in this area, had some possible tie with the family through a mobile home deal with his landlord and who left N.C. for Canada shortly after the murders, was brought back from Canada and appeared at a grand jury regarding the Short murders....but he has never been charged. He is a bit of a local nut - and had a reputation of being nutty with a bad temper before this murder took place. Still and all, I just don't think he is the person who did this. I think a lot of people in this area do believe he is the person responsible, but I'm not one of them. Supposedly he and his landlord had a deal on purchasing/selling a mobile home that fell through - the Short family's business was moving mobile homes - and some say he may have had contact with them to move the mobile home. Jennifer Short's body was found in N.C. in the county where this POI lived and she was found near property where this mobile home was located. So he definately knew the area and the rural location where Jennifer was later found. But so did the landlord that he had the hassle with over the mobile home. And believe me, he's not wrapped too tight either. The police were alerted to this guy by the landlord and the landlord told some tales about the guy, which I don't think ever truly panned out. Some may have, some did not. So why did the landlord guy try to point the finger elsewhere? That's always been the question nagging my brain.

[curious_mom]

Curious-mom, I know that there was a POI in the Short case. Was he ruled out or is he still being considered? What are the thoughts of local people as to his involvement?
That is the problem with this case, NOBODY talks about it anymore. The POI has since moved to another state, but LE states they know where he is if they need further info from him.

If you ask local LE about the case, they just simply say it's still being investigated, but nothing is hardly ever published about the case anymore.

As I stated in the previous post of mine, there was a bit of news on the case last night, heard it again this morning, but cannot find a link yet. Timothy Sampson was convicted yesterday for giving false info to investigators about the Short family. He was one of I think 2 or 3 people who got together and said they witnessed the murders, and it was all false info. They were trying to collect the reward money. Sure wish they'd post the story:confused:

[curious_mom]

Jury convicts man of perjury in Short case

A North Carolina man was convicted Wednesday of perjury and other charges in relation to the slayings of members of the Short family.
U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee said in a release that Timothy Sampson, 41, was convicted of conspiracy to commit perjury, perjury, providing false material and information and subornation (inducing someone to commit a crime) of perjury in relation to the slayings of Michael Short and Mary Short, and the kidnapping and killing of Jennifer Short.

The verdict came after a two-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville.

"Mr. Sampson's conviction makes it clear that we will not tolerate anyone lying to investigators or wasting government resources in this manner," said Brownlee in the release.

more at link: http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Secondstory.htm

[docwho3]

Jury convicts man of perjury in Short case

A North Carolina man was convicted Wednesday of perjury and other charges in relation to the slayings of members of the Short family.
U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee said in a release that Timothy Sampson, 41, was convicted of conspiracy to commit perjury, perjury, providing false material and information and subornation (inducing someone to commit a crime) of perjury in relation to the slayings of Michael Short and Mary Short, and the kidnapping and killing of Jennifer Short.

The verdict came after a two-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville.

"Mr. Sampson's conviction makes it clear that we will not tolerate anyone lying to investigators or wasting government resources in this manner," said Brownlee in the release.

more at link: http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Secondstory.htm
Good! It is bad enough a family has to go through such awful times without having people try to scam the reward and possibly get an innocent person convicted of a crime.

[Wayne]

There have been many references to Duncan maybe being involved in this case, and if I remember correctly, someone in Websleuths and or the "Court TV" message boards sent their 2 cents worth about this to local LE. But there has never been any mention of it in our local news concering this allegation.

As far as I could tell, the closest info about Duncan maybe being involved came from the fact that he had a family member, maybe a sister, who resided in NC, not to far from the Short location in VA. Also, Duncan was suppossedly involved in that online game of GPS hunting of clues (sorry, don't know what the game is called), and may have been as close as the NC area where his sister lived.

The biggest reason I think he was not involved, was because of the location where they found little Jennifer's body. Although it was located off one of our major highways, your everyday tom dick and harry wouldn't just happen upon this location. If you didn't know where it was, it would have been very hard for a stranger to find because it was several turns off the main highway and not very highly travelled.

But I guess anything is possible when it comes to this case, since nothing else they've investigated has seemed to pan out.

I think the majority of us in the area feel as if Jennifer were the intended target, since she is the one who was kidnapped, not just shot at her home like her parents, unless of course the target was one of the parents and in shooting them, little Jennifer woke up and the animal/animals that killed her parents just couldn't decide what to do with her at first, and later decided she, too, had to be done away with???

MOO
Remember, Duncan took the Groene children to a secluded location far off the highway. IMO, with a GPS, Duncan could have returned to the exact location. Just a thought...

Was Jennifer's estimated date of death ever released by LE or Medical Examiner? I heard that is was likely shortly-after Labor Day (just before school started where Duncan attended college in North Dakota). That would imply Jennifer Short was kept alive - like Duncan kept the Groene children alive.

==========
In My Opinion

[gatetrekker44]

of Jennifer's remains-she had apparently been dumped into a creek and the water flow had carried parts of her remains into a field where animals may have scattered them even further-no exact time/date of death was ever able to be established-only an approximate date. Jennifer could have been killed the same day as her parents or been held somewhere for a week or more before being killed.

As far as the location-while it is somewhat off the "beaten path"-anyone with a GPS as a guide could have chosen the location-as could someone who simply cruised around looking for a somewhat secluded area to dump a body.

Unfortunately, without any additional info-police are at a standstill simply because ALL info they have received to date has been thoroughly investigated and all info has led to dead ends. The case is still open and active-but LE at this point just does not have anything else to follow up on.

[WholeLottaRosie]

Just bumping to see if anyone knows anything new on this case?

[curious_mom]

Since my last post about the NC man being convicted of giving false info to police.

[wondering22]

Curious mom has posted some links for us to read. Thank you!

You seem to have read alot of them. Do you have any thoughts on the matter after having read all that?


Are there any URLs available to view photographs of this case?


TIA

[curious_mom]

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/images/Untitled-1.JPG

There were some pictures of the location where they found the bodies of each person, but I no longer have them.

[curious_mom]

Short slayings haunt families, residents, police (http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/topstory.htm)

Who can forget the Short family slayings?
Not the task force of investigators, doggedly pursuing the case every day.

Not the family, still grieving and wondering why the family was killed.

Not the community, which continues to support events such as the Jennifer Short Memorial Bike Ride on Sunday.

Not the media, which continues to keep the story fresh.

And police are betting the person responsible cannot forget either.

"It would have to affect him (or her)," said Henry County Sheriff's Maj. Kimmy Nester. "I don't care how tough he (or she) is."

Michael and Mary Short were found shot to death with single gunshot wounds to their heads four years ago today in their Oak Level home.

The couple's 9-year-old daughter, Jennifer Renee Short, was missing, and police presumed she had been abducted by the person or persons who killed her parents.

About six weeks later, forensic tests determined that remains found in Rockingham County, N.C., about 30 miles south of the Shorts' home, were Jennifer's.

She also died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/topstory.htm

[curious_mom]

Hundreds of area motorcyclists gunned their engines Sunday in remembrance of Jennifer Short, the 9-year-old Oak Level girl whose disappearance four years ago this week shook the community and drew headlines nationwide.

Forming a caravan that stretched more than a mile as it traveled down U.S. 220 South, more than 200 motorcycles, cars and trucks took part in the fourth annual Jennifer Short Memorial Bike/Car Ride. The ride began in Oak Level near the former Short home where Jennifer's parents, Michael and Mary Short, were found shot to death on Aug. 15, 2002.

Remains of Jennifer, believed abducted from the scene, were found a month later near a bridge on Grogan Road in Rockingham County, N.C. Like her parents, she had been shot to death.

When riders reached the bridge, now named in honor of Jennifer, they gathered as law enforcement and government officials from Henry County, Martinsville and Rockingham County vowed to continue looking for the person or persons responsible for the crime.

"We want to commit and recommit to the family -- we have not retired this case, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page told the crowd. He pledged to work with the FBI, the Henry County Sheriff's Office and other officials "until we can bring about closure."

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2006/Aug%20'06/a081406.htm

[curious_mom]

STONEVILLE, N.C. - Dozens of friends and supporters of a young girl and her parents who were killed four years ago gathered Sunday to honor them.

There's been no success in naming the person who killed Jennifer Short's parents, abducted the girl and shot her to death, then dumped the 9-year-old girl's body under a bridge here.

On Sunday, as motorcycles and other vehicles rumbled past, Reba Sink tore defaced posters from the railing of the bridge over Jacob's Creek and knelt at several spots to tape up crisp, new portraits of the girl.

The fourth annual Jennifer Short Memorial Ride honors the family and raises money for a scholarship; this year, 200 motorcycles and 20 cars participated as the event collected $2,354.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/15267413.htm

[curious_mom]

I have located a memorial page set up for the Short family, that shows pictures of the area where Jennifer's body was found.

If you look at the pictures of the bridge, parts of her body were found in the area below the bridge.

http://www.bubbaonline.com/jennifershort.htm

[curious_mom]

Without going back and reading all the links posted. I found this cached article which basically gives a breakdown of almost everything about the case:

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:zH_CHlV-VGYJ:crimeblog.us/+jennifer+michael+mary+short+crime+scene+photos&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2

[OceanEyes]

bumping for Jennifer

[curious_mom]

All of the articles that I have saved/archived, from the Martinsville Bulletin, are now no good. The newspaper reformatted their whole website, and none of their previous links work, at all :banghead:

In order to look at any of the articles where I have links to the Martinsville Bulletin, you have to go to an archive page, and then put the date or keyword in to find the article.

If anybody ever looks at this page again, and you need to see any of the articles, you can go to: http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/archives.cfm and use the date by the original articles I posted, or put in Jennifer Short, and it will bring up alot of the important articles:furious: :furious: :furious: .

[less0305]

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1222701#post1222701

I posted this in the Crimes thread.

[Shadow205]

Maybe now some outside LE agencie will look into the muder of the Shorts, This sure doesn't make you think that a proper investigation was done the first time around.

[curious_mom]

Maybe now some outside LE agencie will look into the muder of the Shorts, This sure doesn't make you think that a proper investigation was done the first time around.
This is the question on everybodys mind in our area, where the Short family lived!

So far, 4 deputies have plead guilty, the rest, not guilty. One deputy had the 1 charge against him dropped last night, only to have 4 more charges placed against him today.

We keep hearing rumor after rumor, but who's to say what's really going on. If I was a betting person, I'd bet at least half of the rumors are true :)

We're all anticipating what's to come!

[grievousangel]

any updates on this case??? At one point I thought perhaps the Short case was connected to the Lisk-Silva murders ...also in VA but in Spotsylvania Co...but the man, Marc Evonitz, committed suicide in June of 2002, before the Short murders..evidence showed he was the murderer of those girls...but my thoughts are that there are more victims out there. Things may not be what they seem on the outside but it does seem that perhaps, the intended victim was Jennifer and her parents were just in the way.

[Rle7]

We are coming up on the 5th anniversary of possibly the most infamous murder case in Henry County.

In August of 2002, Mike and Mary Short were found dead in their home. A month later, their young daughter Jennifer was found dead in Rockingham County, North Carolina. Since that time, authorities have followed up on dozens of tips but none have lead to their killer.

Still, the Henry County Sheriff's department assures the case is actively under investigation, with the tips continuing to come in.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=6139656&nav=S6aK

[Starlight]

I've been watching this case since day one, and as with so many other cases, I have seen it fall by the wayside, as other, more important people dominated the news media for months at a time. The case remains posted on my web site, although I have neglected to post many of the cases that the media seems so concerned about..... possibly because I feel insulted that those with money can do whatever they wish when they are alive, and as soon as they end up dead, our entire nation wants to make a hero of them, while the common person is never considered important at any time. Well, I disagree with that principle, but I also know that is the precise attitude that a serial killer [any serial killer] relies upon. He knows the cops won't work, mostly because their bosses won't let them work. The prosecuting attorney's won't do their jobs unless it's an election year and they are up for re-election.
I built a web page so people could go read my information and decide for themselves whether it's of any value. I'm not like the cops. I won't sit and hold information that might jog someone's memory, or refuse to release descriptions of vehicles, clothing, etc. that someone might possibly identify. I'm actually interested in stopping a serial killer so he can't kill anymore of our people. So, go check my page out if you're interested. I'll discuss my information with anyone who wants to discuss it. However, I am not seeking critics, or those who wish to debate, ridicule and criticize my efforts, or argue. Facts are facts and they don't change - and neither does my web pages, except to do updates.

http://users.1st.net/mwells/JeniferShort.htm

email me at: bmwells@1st.net

[curious_mom]

Wednesday, August 8, 2007
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer


The past four summers, Ray Reynolds and scores of volunteers have devoted one day to honoring the memory of Jennifer Renee Short. This summer is no exception. “There’s still unfinished business,” Reynolds said of the reason behind the fifth annual Jennifer Short Memorial Ride, which will be held Sunday. The ride brings attention to the Short slayings, he said. It also raises money for the Jennifer Short Scholarship Fund, which awards a $500 scholarship to a college-bound Bassett High School student. Jennifer would have attended Bassett High.

Jennifer was 9 years old when she disappeared and was presumed kidnapped after the shooting deaths of her parents, Michael and Mary Short, in their home in the Oak Level area of Henry County in August 2002. Jennifer’s remains were found the following month in Rockingham County, N.C. Police determined that she, like her parents, had been shot in the head. Reynolds lived across the street from the Shorts, and he said he saw Jennifer the night before her parents were killed. That memory, coupled with the fact that no one has been charged in connection with the killings, prompt Reynolds to help organize the ride in Jennifer’s memory year after year with Ricky “Big Bird” Holcomb. “No one’s been charged yet,” Reynolds said, and he hopes to continue the event until a killer is brought to justice.


http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=10162

[curious_mom]

Monday, August 13, 2007
By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer


Five years after Mary and Michael Short were shot to death and their 9-year-old daughter was abducted and slain, police have no new information to share in the case, according to Rockingham County (N.C.) Sheriff Sam Page.
“I wish I could tell you something” new about the case, “but honestly I can’t,” Page told 157 people gathered at the Jennifer Short Memorial Bridge on Sunday. They had taken part in the fifth annual Jennifer Short Memorial Ride, which began in Henry County and ended on the bridge near where Jennifer’s remains were found in September 2002.

http://tinyurl.com/24omyy

[curious_mom]

Lindsey Henley / WSLS NewsChannel 10
Aug 12, 2007



Motorcyclists rev their engines ? hoping the Jennifer Short Memorial Ride will spark someone's memory of what happened five years ago this week. "It keeps people thinking about what went on and hopefully someone will take attention and come forward," Jerry Short, Michael Short's brother, said.
Right across the street from where the drivers congregate is the house where Michael and Mary short were found shot to death.
Their nine year old daughter, Jennifer, was found dismembered in a North Carolina ditch about a month later.
It's a cold-blooded murder that police have yet to figure out.
"I don't think they've really ever lost any of the people of interest that they had originally," Sheriff Lane Perry with the Henry County Sheriff's Office said. "But they do have people they look at and leads they follow up on."
At the end of the memorial ride, some of Jennifer's family members put her picture at the bridge where police found her remains. They hope someone driving by may recognize her and call police with the piece of information that can solve this puzzle.


http://tinyurl.com/yohrxh

[curious_mom]

Wednesday marks the 5th anniversary of the Short family murders. Despite an on-going investigation, no one has ever been charged with the crimes.


WFMY News 2 - Nearly 5 years ago, someone found Michael and Mary Short dead in their home, both with a single bullet wound to their head.

"We presume that she was kidnapped, abducted from her own home after her parents were killed and taken against her will," said an investigator on the scene of the Short family murders in 2002.

It has been 5 years since the discovery of Michael and Mary Short's bodies in their Henry County, Virginia home.

"They were good people, quiet," said a friend. "They never bothered anybody as far as I know. Just down-to-earth, everyday people."

"To brutally murder two people and then not to harm the third person, to take that person, for whatever reason, at this time doesn't make a lot of sense," said an investigator at the scene.

The murders on August 15, 2002 launched a search for the couple's missing 9-year-old daughter, Jennifer.

Efforts by air, on land and under water went on for weeks, while Jennifer's extended family waited for her return.

"We miss you and we love you very much. Please don't give up," a relative said through tears at press conference held shortly after Jennifer's disappearance.

Nearly six weeks later, dogs found remains in Rockingham County. Authorities had DNA results by October 4.

http://tinyurl.com/24awmg

[docwho3]

This one needs to be solved. Hoping L.E. gets info to help them in the case.

[curious_mom]

August 15, 2007

Today marks the five-year anniversary since a Henry County family was brutally killed.
On August 15, 2002 a family friend found Michael and Mary Short shot dead in their home off Route 220. A month and a half later, their daughter Jennifer's body was found in a creek in North Carolina. She was also shot.



At this point not one suspect has been arrested. For years, Gary Bowman was the only known person of interest in the triple murder that sent shivers through Henry County. After his arrest on immigration charges in Canada's Yukon territory, he was deported back to North Carolina.


From the very beginning, Bowman was very vocal, insisting he had nothing to do with the killings of Mike, Mary or Jennifer Short. While investigators aren't going as far as saying he's innocent, they admit it's time to turn their attention elsewhere.
"In Mr. Bowman's particular case, he was someone looked at early on in the investigation" says FBI supervisor Kevin Foust. "The evidence has not panned out to this point... that any indictments or arrests are imminent or pending in the foreseeable future."


http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=6933367

[curious_mom]

In Short family slayings

Wednesday, August 15, 2007
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer

A task force assigned to the five-year-old Short family homicide case has developed people of interest, according to Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry.

However, Perry would not elaborate on the people who were identified by the task force, which is made up of ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives), FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations), Virginia State Police, local and other investigators.

In general terms, Perry described people of interest as having “circumstances surrounding them that need to be proved or disproved.

” Michael and Mary Short were found shot to death inside their Oak Level home on Aug. 16, 2002. Each was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head, police have said.

The Shorts’ daughter, Jennifer Renee Short, who was 9 years old at the time, was missing and presumed abducted.

About six weeks later, her remains were found near a bridge on Grogan Road in Rockingham County, N.C. Forensic tests determined that Jennifer also died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

No arrests have been made in the slayings.

<snipped from same article>

Early on in the investigation, police identified Garrison Bowman, a retired carpenter from North Carolina, as a person of interest in the case. Perry said Monday that Bowman is not a suspect. He declined to elaborate.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=10249

Garrison has been the only named person of interest in this case, and finally, now, after all this time, they are saying he's not a suspect, WOW. I know most of the people I talk to about this case have always felt Mr. Bowman was set-up, I guess now police might think the same???

[curious_mom]

The sixth annual Jennifer Short Memorial Bike/Car Ride is as important this year as ever, organizers say, but they fear fuel prices and the general state of the economy will keep riders at home.
The 35-mile ride that honors Jennifer Short and her parents, whose killer is still unknown, is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 10, and the cost is $10 per person.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=14967&back=archives

[curious_mom]

Investigators continue to probe case

A break in the investigation into the slayings of Michael, Mary and Jennifer Short could be just one piece of evidence away, law enforcement officials told a crowd gathered Sunday to honor the former Oak Level residents.
“I want to assure you, this is not a cold case,” Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said as he stood on a bridge in Rockingham County, N.C., near where 9-year-old Jennifer’s remains were found almost six years ago. “... I think we’re on the verge of it. We just need that last little piece of evidence.”

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/photos/medium/1-a-Jshortride1.jpg
(About 170 riders line up Sunday for the return trip to Virginia at a home on Grogan Road in Rockingham County, N.C., near the site where 9-year-old Jennifer Short’s body was found in 2002. Her parents, Michael and Mary Short, were found shot to death in their Oak Level home weeks before her body was found.) (Bulletin photo by Mike Wray)

[curious_mom]

Fund now totals $67,000

State, federal and local authorities hope a reward of nearly $70,000 will jog a memory and provide information that will lead to a conviction in the six-year-old Short triple homicide.
“This is a different type of crime,” Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said Friday at the announcement which coincided with the anniversary of the shooting deaths of Michael and Mary Short and their daughter, Jennifer Short, 9.

The FBI recently unveiled a new Web site to give and receive information on the case at http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/short_j.htm, Perry said. A toll-free Tip Line can be accessed at 1-800-225-5324. Locally, CrimeStoppers can be reached at 632-7463 (or 63-CRIME), he said.http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=15147&back=archives

[LillyRush]

I hate to admit this, but I didn't realize that the Short murders are still unsolved. This seems ridiculous. It's such a small town, someone had to notice something.

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Thanks for keeping this updated, curious mom.

[SewingDeb]

I've often wondered if this is a Joseph Duncan crime. I think I remember that he went to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia around this time to go diving.

[englishleigh]

I've often wondered if this is a Joseph Duncan crime. I think I remember that he went to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia around this time to go diving.

:eek: This would be his M.O., too, based on what he did to the Groenes. Home invasion, murder of parents with a gun, abduction of child and later shooting the child to death, too.

[SewingDeb]

It all fits...If... he was on the East Coast during the time of the murders.

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

:eek: This would be his M.O., too, based on what he did to the Groenes. Home invasion, murder of parents with a gun, abduction of child and later shooting the child to death, too.
This has reminded me of Duncan since we first learned of him but did he use a gun on Brenda Groene and her boyfriend? I thought it was much more grotesque.

[happy2bn10ec]

This has reminded me of Duncan since we first learned of him but did he use a gun on Brenda Groene and her boyfriend? I thought it was much more grotesque.

I emailed Steve Huff through the blog he had at the time with this info when the story broke about Duncan (and I am sure I wasn't the only one) to see if he could check into it. I know he did quite a bit of research on Duncan and was tracking his whereabouts for the years preceding the Groene kidnapping. Anyway, I checked back on his blog many times to see if he had made a connection to the Short case and don't think he ever did.

This was the first case I thought about when I heard about Duncan. It happened not very far from here and I still check on it every now and then to see if they ever arrested anyone.

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

This was the first case I thought about when I heard about Duncan. It happened not very far from here and I still check on it every now and then to see if they ever arrested anyone.
It is, indeed, startlingly similar. I join with everyone here in hoping that they will eventually find justice for this family.

[LillyRush]

That is interesting about the Duncan connection. I had never heard about that. Has the possibility of him being at Smith Mountain Lake been confirmed?

If he was on the East coast at all, that certainly opens up possible leads in other cases as well. Maybe at this point since he's already facing death he'll start to open up even more about other crimes.

[curious_mom]

Short case reward brings tips
Thursday, August 28, 2008

A nearly $70,000 reward has sparked interest and information about the Short family slayings, and a local pastor is calling for prayer and a communitywide three-day fast to help solve the case.
Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said typically, there are more calls preceding the Aug. 15 anniversary of the slayings, but calls were even more abundant this year than usual.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=15336

[curious_mom]

Authorities investigating the 2002 shooting deaths of the Short family in Henry County have “identified a possible vehicle associated with” the crime.
According to an update on an FBI Web site on the Short slayings, the investigation “has identified a possible vehicle associated with this crime. Information is being sought to further identify this vehicle.”

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=15731

FBI update: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/short_j2.htm

[woodforest]

this case is so sad. Jennifer's remains were found 30 minutes away from my home. One of the guys arrested for lying to investigators is a registered sex offender (he's a predator in my opinion) in my county. This little girl is has been in my thoughts and prayers since the day her family was murdered.

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Authorities investigating the 2002 shooting deaths of the Short family in Henry County have “identified a possible vehicle associated with” the crime.
According to an update on an FBI Web site on the Short slayings, the investigation “has identified a possible vehicle associated with this crime. Information is being sought to further identify this vehicle.”

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=15731

FBI update: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/short_j2.htm
Thank you for this hopeful update.

[seeker78]

My prayers go out that this case is solved soon.

[curious_mom]

Husband was looking for work in S.C.

Michael Short was trying to get a job as a mobile home mover in South Carolina at the time he, his wife, Mary Short, and daughter, Jennifer, were killed.

According to an FBI Web site established to gather information in the Aug. 15, 2002, slayings of the family, Michael Short “was attempting to obtain employment as a mobile home mover in the coastal region of South Carolina.

“Investigators are seeking information from any person(s) who had contact with Michael Short regarding relocating to South Carolina,” the FBI site adds.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=16071

FBI update page: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/short_j2.htm

[curious_mom]

FBI adds lead on Shorts

Man was seen near home
Sunday, November 16, 2008

Authorities are seeking information about an unidentified man seen in a car near the Short home on the morning in 2002 when the couple was slain and their daughter was abducted.
An update posted on the FBI Web site on Friday was the first revelation that a man had been seen sitting in a car along U.S. 220 in Oak Level near the Shorts’ home early on the morning of Aug. 15, 2002.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=16626

[curious_mom]

FBI adds lead on Shorts


4. Investigators are seeking information from general contractors, independent contractors, construction companies, mobile home dealers, mobile home parts suppliers, mobile home transporters or mobile home salvage yard owners who conducted business with Michael W. Short or M.S. Mobile Home Movers between January 1, 2001 and August 15, 2002.


http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/short_j2.htm

[curious_mom]

Short case to be focus of television program
Thursday, December 18, 2008

Local, state, North Carolina and federal authorities recently finished taping a television show about the 2002 Short family slayings, which remain Henry County’s most high-profile unsolved crime.
“We hope to expand the coverage area and generate more leads,” Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said Wednesday.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=17052

[curious_mom]

FBI releases truck sketch (http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=17366)
Friday, January 16, 2009

The FBI has released a sketch of a truck that might have been associated with the 2002 Short family slayings, and a sketch of a man who might have been seen inside the truck may follow next month.

The vehicle is described as a 1998 to 2002 white, single-cab, two-ton flatbed stake body truck with wooden rails, according to the FBI’s Web site on the slayings of Mary, Michael and Jennifer Short.


http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/photos/medium/2-a_short_truck_sketch.jpg

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=17366

[Lola]

Thanks for posting that curious mom. This case has stuck with me....but are they serious with that pathetic sketch? I can only hope that there is much more they are holding back.

[curious_mom]

I'm am going to put this out there, although I will state right up front, at this time, I can only confirm this as a rumor, although I can promise you, it came from a very reliable source. I'm still looking into it though. Bear with me, as I can only use generalities right now, but when/if I get the confirmation that I think I will get, I'll update.

Anybody remember about the Sheriff's department in this local area, where the Sheriff & 12 or so deputies were arrested, and most convicted, of charges from lying to investigators, dealing drugs, etc? Well, it appears this might come into play with this case, as most of us have wondered from the start.

There was a paper route delivery man, who delivered papers here locally, but the papers were not local, they were from out of town. The meeting place for him/her to pick up the papers was almost catty corner across the street from the Short family home, at the flea market, which is in plain view of the Short family home. He has said, during the time he did this, that almost every night, between 2-3 am, while he was waiting to pick up his papers, there would be police cars pulling into the Short family home. He said they would come up the highway, turn off their lights before pulling into the Shorts driveway, get out for a short while, get back in their car & leave again. This was almost every night, for a very long time that he witnessed this.

I've made some phone calls, and hopefully this info has gotten into the right hands already. Many of us have felt every since the corruption at the Sheriff's department, they were somehow involved. I hope & pray this is the missing link that will finally solve this case!!!

[shadowraiths]

I'm am going to put this out there, although I will state right up front, at this time, I can only confirm this as a rumor, although I can promise you, it came from a very reliable source. I'm still looking into it though. Bear with me, as I can only use generalities right now, but when/if I get the confirmation that I think I will get, I'll update.

Anybody remember about the Sheriff's department in this local area, where the Sheriff & 12 or so deputies were arrested, and most convicted, of charges from lying to investigators, dealing drugs, etc? Well, it appears this might come into play with this case, as most of us have wondered from the start.

There was a paper route delivery man, who delivered papers here locally, but the papers were not local, they were from out of town. The meeting place for him/her to pick up the papers was almost catty corner across the street from the Short family home, at the flea market, which is in plain view of the Short family home. He has said, during the time he did this, that almost every night, between 2-3 am, while he was waiting to pick up his papers, there would be police cars pulling into the Short family home. He said they would come up the highway, turn off their lights before pulling into the Shorts driveway, get out for a short while, get back in their car & leave again. This was almost every night, for a very long time that he witnessed this.

I've made some phone calls, and hopefully this info has gotten into the right hands already. Many of us have felt every since the corruption at the Sheriff's department, they were somehow involved. I hope & pray this is the missing link that will finally solve this case!!!
Wow! Just wow.

[curious_mom]

FBI releases new composite drawing in Short family murders

February 12, 2009

FBI Sketch of man they’d like to interview:
http://media.wsls.com/wsls/gfx.php?max_width=320&imgfile=images/uploads/ShortMurdersFBIsketch02WebPic.jpg

FBI picture of truck similar to one man was seen in area:
http://media.wsls.com/wsls/images/uploads/ShortMurdersTruckFBIWebPic02.jpg

http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/southside/article/fbi_to_release_new_picture_composite_drawing_in_sh ort_murder_case/27560/

[curious_mom]

FBI reveals sketch, photo in Short case
Thursday, February 12, 2009

The FBI has released a sketch of a man and a photograph of a truck in connection with the investigation into the slayings of Jennifer Short and her parents in 2002.
The sketch is a composite drawing of a man seen near the Oak Level home where Mary and Michael Short were found shot to death on Aug. 15, 2002. The truck is a photograph of one similar to a vehicle seen near the home that day. The FBI earlier had released a sketch of the truck.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=17694

[Lola]

Thanks for posting, curious mom. This is one of those cases that has stuck with me. Hope they find this guy...if this is the guy.

[curious_mom]

Sketch brings calls in Short case
Sunday, February 15, 2009

The release of a composite sketch of a man reportedly seen in the neighborhood around the time frame of the Short family slayings has one family member racking her brain and authorities chasing leads.
Henry County Sheriff’s Sgt. Curtis Spence, who also is a member of a special task force charged with investigating the triple slayings, said the sketch released Thursday has generated a multitude of calls.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=17722

FBI says Henry County Sheriff’s Office corruption didn’t effect Short investigation

Published: February 12, 2009

Roanoke resident agent-in-charge with the FBI, Kevin Foust, said the 2006 Henry County sheriff’s office scandal did not effect the investigation into the Short family murder case.
In a rather extensive interview about the latest in the investigation Thursday with 10 On Your Side, Foust expressed confidence the case would one day be solved.


http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/southside/article/fbi_2006_sheriffs_office_corruption_didnt_effect_s hort_investigation/27656/ (video included)

FBI release new composite drawings in Short murders
February 12, 2009
The FBI has released a new composite drawing in the Short murders.
Agent Kevin Foust says the new drawing is of a man seen near the site of the murders in Henry County. The man may be associated with a truck spotted near the Short family home in Oak Level.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=9835040&nav=menu368_1

[SewingDeb]

Update. Sketch at link.

The FBI has said this artist rendering is of a man who may have been in the Henry County area in the early morning hours of August 15, 2002.

http://www.wxii12.com/news/18949172/detail.html?treets=gws&tid=2654350408813&tml=gws_12pm&tmi=gws_12pm_1_11000103172009&ts=H

[SewingDeb]

Hmmm....the article is new but the sketch appears to be pretty much the same except maybe more wrinkles around the eyes.

[curious_mom]

FBI seeks former employees of Michael Short
Probe of 2002 triple homicide
Sunday, April 19, 2009

Authorities investigating the nearly seven-year-old Short family homicide hope to find former employees of Michael Short and his mobile home moving service.
A task force of local, state and federal officers assigned to investigate the slayings of Michael and Mary Short and their 9-year-old daughter, Jennifer Short, are trying to identify and locate former employees of the family business, M.S. Mobile Home Movers, according to updated information at the FBI Web site.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=18553
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/short_j2.htm

Sheesh, I thought they were making headway with this case, finally. Way back when this happened, "they" were investigating former employees, but it was determined that most of Michael's employees were migrant workers and couldn't be tracked down because they were illegal. If they are still stuck on this part of the investigation, chances are they will never solve this case :(

[SewingDeb]

Maybe the $70,000 reward might bring someone forward with information.

[curious_mom]

11. Investigators are reviewing specific Short family documents and have identified individuals who had contact with the family prior to August 15, 2002. Upon completion of this review, members of the task force will be conducting additional interviews in the near future.http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/short_j2.htm

Also:

Police review papers in case of Short slayings:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Authorities investigating the nearly seven-year-old Short family slayings are using family documents to identify people who may have had contact with the Shorts before they were killed.
Investigators assigned to a task force of local, state and federal officers probing the slayings have reviewed Short family documents and identified individuals who had contact with the family before Aug. 15, 2002, according to updated information on the FBI Web site.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=19317

[It'sME]

Only link I can find for the Short family to park newest article etc.

Short probe looking for customers of mobile home moving business

Thursday, July 16, 2009

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer

Federal, state and local investigators assigned to the Jennifer Renee Short Homicide/Abduction Task Force are urging anyone who had a mobile home moved by M.S. Mobile Home Movers in 2002 to contact them.

Authorities are particularly interested in talking to anyone who was not yet interviewed, but had a mobile home moved by Mike Short or his company in 2002, according to an update at the FBI’s Web site on the triple homicide.

The search also continues for a man depicted in a sketch released earlier this year.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=19721
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/short_j2.htm

Nothing new perhaps but trying to get the word back out. Honestly I think they missed the boat when they couldn't pin anything or associate it with Gary Bowman whose trailer was within 1/2 mile of where Jennifers remains were found. In talking with a Rockingham County CSI agent he agreed.... but they just couldn't associate with him at the time.

Bulletin archives on the story:
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/archives.cfm type in Jennifer Short

[MBLover]

With all the dirty dealings by the Henry Co. PD a couple years ago, I have to wonder if the FBI looked at any of these people in connection to the murder of the Short family.

Could Michael Short have been involved somehow with all of this and someone was afraid he was going to rat them out, or maybe he stole money/drugs from them.

Gary Bowman doesn't strike me as smart enough to pull something off this big and get away with it - at least not by himself.

JMO

[curious_mom]

FBI hopes to profile Short case on TV
Thursday, November 19, 2009

Information about the 2002 slayings of Michael, Mary and Jennifer Short might be featured on national syndicated TV shows soon.
Members of the Jennifer Renee Short Homicide/Abduction Task Force have met with producers of two television shows in hopes of getting the case profiled in the near future, according to information posted at the FBI Web site.

http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=21431
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/short_j2.htm