VA VA - Michael, 50, Mary, 36, & Jennifer Short, 9, Bassett, 15 Aug 2002

docwho3 · Nov 8, 2005

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

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

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 · Nov 8, 2005

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 · Nov 8, 2005

mysteriew 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"?

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 · Nov 9, 2005

"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"

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 · Nov 9, 2005

curious_mom said:
"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"

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 · Nov 9, 2005

"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 · Nov 9, 2005

curious_mom said:
"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 · Nov 10, 2005

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

curious_mom · Nov 10, 2005

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 · Nov 10, 2005

curious_mom said:
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 · Nov 10, 2005

curious_mom · Nov 10, 2005

docwho3 said:
"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 · Nov 10, 2005

curious_mom said:
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 · Nov 10, 2005

stevie · Nov 11, 2005

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 · Nov 14, 2005

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 · Nov 15, 2005

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 · Nov 15, 2005

curious_mom said:
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 · Nov 16, 2005

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 · Nov 16, 2005

curious_mom said:
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.

VA VA - Michael, 50, Mary, 36, & Jennifer Short, 9, Bassett, 15 Aug 2002

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