A woman residing at Fort Eisenhower has pled guilty to the murder of her infant son. April Evalyn Short, 31, admitted to the charge of Murder in the Second Degree. This was confirmed by Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Under a negotiated plea agreement, Short faces a 20-year prison sentence, financial penalties, and five years of supervised release after her incarceration. The federal system does not allow parole.
“The plea agreement in this disturbing case represents a difficult but appropriate resolution to this tragic and shocking homicide,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons.
According to details from the plea agreement, on November 15, 2023, at Fort Eisenhower, Short killed her 11-month-old son with a knife "willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice aforethought."
Short is currently held by the U.S. Marshals Service. Her sentencing will be scheduled by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall following a presentence investigation conducted by U.S. Probation Services.
“This plea is a testament to the outstanding investigative efforts of our Army CID personnel," said Steven Ausfeldt, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Southeast Field Office. He highlighted the collaboration between law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to ensure justice for victims.
Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta remarked, “April Short will now have 20 years to think about her heinous actions.” He acknowledged that while this plea cannot reverse the tragedy or loss suffered, it brings justice for those who knew and loved the child.
The case has been investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division with support from the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr. and Patricia G. Rhodes.
For further inquiries, contact can be made with the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.