Episode Summary
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.
Listen Now
For our friends in the Deaf and Signing community, you can view an ASL version of this episode HERE.
Episode Info
If you or anyone you know has information that could help this investigation, please call Henry County Crime Stoppers at 276-632-7463.
Mary Short (left), Jennifer Short (middle) and Michael Short (right)
Jennifer Short
A sketch of the man that the FBI would like to question in connection with the murders of the Short family
The Short family’s home in Oak Level, Virginia, after being burnt down in 2019
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.