A disturbing series of text messages containing biblical references led to the discovery of a heinous crime at Fort Eisenhower military installation in Georgia.
According to Fox News, April Evalyn Short, 31, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for fatally stabbing her 11-month-old son in the neck with multiple knives at the military base in 2023.
The U.S. Army wife's actions sent shockwaves through the military community when her husband, a staff sergeant, discovered their infant son wrapped in a shower curtain and bleeding from fatal neck wounds. Short faces 20 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole as part of her plea agreement, which includes financial penalties and five years of supervised release.
Premeditated attack reveals disturbing details
The tragedy unfolded on November 15, 2023, when Short sent cryptic messages with religious overtones to her husband. Alarmed by the concerning texts, he rushed home to find their baby son grievously wounded in the bathtub of their on-base residence. Despite immediate medical attention at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, the infant was pronounced dead.
Court documents revealed that Short had deliberately prevented her other children, aged 11 and 6, from entering the bathroom during the attack. She warned them that the sight might be "really scary," leaving them in a nearby bedroom while she carried out the brutal assault.
The autopsy findings, presented by U.S. Army Col. Dori Mitchell Franco, uncovered the methodical nature of the attack. Short used two different knives, switching to a second weapon when the first proved too dull to complete the act.
Authorities respond to shocking military base homicide
Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons commented on the case's resolution:
The plea agreement in this disturbing case represents a difficult but appropriate resolution to this tragic and shocking homicide.
FBI Atlanta's Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown emphasized the gravity of Short's actions:
This plea cannot undo that tragedy and loss, but brings another measure of justice to those who knew and loved the child during his short life.
The defendant remains in U.S. Marshals Service custody while awaiting her formal sentencing. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will determine the final sentence after reviewing a pre-sentence investigation conducted by U.S. Probation Services.
Justice system's response to military family violence
The case highlights the complex intersection of military family life and criminal justice. Short's plea agreement demonstrates the federal court system's approach to addressing violent crimes committed on military installations.
The involvement of multiple agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service, underscores the serious nature of crimes committed within military jurisdictions. The coordination between civilian and military authorities proved crucial in securing the guilty plea.
The impact of the crime extends beyond the immediate family, affecting the entire Fort Eisenhower community and raising questions about support systems for military families under stress.
Murder case reaches conclusion at Fort Eisenhower
April Evalyn Short, the wife of a U.S. Army staff sergeant, admitted to the second-degree murder of her 11-month-old son at Fort Eisenhower military base in Georgia. The November 2023 killing involved multiple weapons and was discovered after Short sent concerning biblical messages to her husband, leading him to find their infant son fatally wounded in their bathroom. Under the negotiated plea agreement, Short faces 20 years in federal prison without parole, financial penalties, and post-release supervision, with her formal sentencing pending before U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall.
