MURDERED: The Short Family
When Michael and Mary Short are found murdered in their Virginia home in August of 2002, the question on everyone’s minds is: where is their nine-year-old daughter Jennifer? But as weeks go by with no solid leads, authorities grow more and more concerned that they won’t find Jennifer alive. And those worries only intensify when a homeowner across state lines finds something horrifying in his front yard.
For our friends in the Deaf and Signing community, you can view an ASL version of this episode.
A sketch of the man that the FBI would like to question in connection with the murders of the Short family
Please contact the authorities if you have any information that could help this investigation:
The Henry County Crime Stoppers
Please call Henry County Crime Stoppers at 276-632-7463.
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- News & Record (Greensboro, NC): Search for VA. Girl extended\Investigators plead for any tips on the 9-year-old’s whereabouts, by Tim Yeadon.
- CNN: Police low on clues in girl’s disappearance.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): Police continue the search, by Chris Kahn.
- The Washington Post (Washington, D.C.): Alert on Girl Yields Calls But No Clues, by Eric M. Weiss.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): Police retrace steps as community prays, by Associated Press.
- CNN: Missing Virginia girl’s aunt begs for her return.
- The Daily News Leader (Staunton, VA): Police target several people in search, by Associated Press.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): Hope eases their grief, by Chris Kahn.
- The Washington Post (Washington, D.C.): Remains Are Those Of Va. Child.
- CNN: Man in Canada to be questioned in Jennifer Short case.
- The Daily News Leader (Staunton, VA): Missing Short girl’s DNA test results in, by Associated Press.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): Anguish over missing girl fuels quest for answers, by Associated Press.
- WISTV (Columbia, SC): Skull found during search for kidnapped Virginia girl, by Associated Press.
- Martinsville Bulletin (Martinsville, VA): One teacher’s running start, by Mickey Powell.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): Child’s remains in N.C. to get more DNA tests, by Associated Press.
- CNN: Rockingham County Sheriff Announces DNA Analysis Results.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): N.C. remains those of 9-year-old, by Chris Kahn.
- News & Record (Greensboro, NC): Friend: Witness wasn’t fleeing\John Beasley says Garrison Bowman did not go to Canada to escape arrest in the slayings of Michael, Mary, and Jennifer Short, by Tom Steadman and Jennifer Fernandez.
- Henry County Enterprise (Stuart, VA): Sheriff believes “key information” exists in decade-old murder mystery, by Callie Hietala and Debbie Hall.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): Canada to deport witness in Short slayings, by Associated Press.
- Star News Online (Wilmington, NC): Man couldn’t have killed 3, friends say, by Associated Press.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): Canada to turn over items in short case, by staff and wire service reports.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): Slayings witness remains in Va. jail, by Associated Press.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): Man sought in slayings headed to Va., by Associated Press.
- The Daily News Leader (Staunton, VA): Short family murder investigation continues, by Associated Press.
- News & Record (Greensboro, NC): Grand jury ends without indictment\ The panel had been investigating the slayings of Michael and Mary Short and their daughter Jennifer, by Tim Yeadon and Jennifer Fernandez.
- Daily Press (Newport News, VA): N.C. man set free after questioning in family slaying, by Associated Press.
- Winston-Salem Journal (Winston-Salem, NC): FBI releases suspect sketch in Short murders, by Paul Garber.
- WFXR Fox (Roanoke, VA): Investigators release new plea for help in Short family murders.
- Who Killed Jennifer Short? (Limited podcast series from Fox 8).
- WFMY News 2 (Greensboro, NC): Fire Destroys Home Where Jennifer Short’s Parents Were Murdered, by Carrie Hodgin.
Suggested Episodes
WANTED: Justice for Rhys Pocan & MMIW Part 2
In 2021, we set out to cover the case of Rhys Pocan, a 35-year-old Indigenous woman who was murdered in Wisconsin in the ‘80s. In Part 2, we look into cases of two other female dismemberment victims in Wisconsin with striking similarities to Rhys Pocan’s.
WANTED: Justice for Rhys Pocan & MMIW Part 1
In 2021, we set out to cover the case of Rhys Pocan, a 35-year-old Indigenous woman who was murdered in Wisconsin in the ‘80s. But while we were in the field, we uncovered a disturbing pattern of murders with similarities to Rhys’ that were just too blatant to ignore. So, we spent the next three years working with local and federal law enforcement to try and get to the bottom of it.
WANTED: The Keddie Cabin Killer
A family’s brutal murder rocks a tiny California town and leaves behind too many unanswered questions.
Join our Fan Club to listen to this episode and more!
Unlock all of the exclusive benefits and dynamic listening experience as a Crime Junkie Fan Club member.
Join the Fan Club now to reap the rewards!
