U.S. Army Wife Accepts Plea Deal in Second-Degree Murder of 11-Month-Old Son, a resident listed in public arrest records, was taken into custody on April 5, 2025, in Featured County, Georgia. According to the official booking report, the arrest was made by local authorities and the subject was charged with the following offense(s): unspecified charges. This incident was officially recorded and made publicly available by law enforcement agencies in the state of Georgia. The details provided reflect the arrest information at the time of booking and do not indicate guilt or conviction. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. — An Army wife has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the tragic killing of her 11-month-old son, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
April Evalyn Short, 31, entered the plea as part of a negotiated agreement and now faces 20 years in federal prison, significant fines, and five years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
The charges stem from a November 2023 incident in which Short fatally injured her infant son. Prosecutors say she acted “willfully, deliberately, and with malice aforethought” when she used two knives to end the child’s life inside their home at Fort Eisenhower, formerly Fort Gordon, where her husband serves as a U.S. Army drill sergeant.
Court records show that on the morning of November 15, Staff Sgt. James Short received alarming texts from his wife, referencing God and declaring, “The days of darkness are upon us.” Unable to reach her by phone, he rushed home and found her barricaded in a bathroom with their three children, ages 11, 6, and 11 months.
After law enforcement arrived, April Short eventually exited with the two older children. She briefly attempted to flee in a vehicle with them before being stopped and taken into custody.
Tragically, their infant son was later found deceased in the bathroom, wrapped in a plastic shower curtain and suffering from deep wounds to his neck. He was pronounced dead at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center.
During interviews, Short admitted to cutting her son’s neck so he could “be with Jesus and God.” Her daughter later told investigators that their mother warned them not to enter the bathroom, saying it would be “really scary.” When the girl began to cry, Short allegedly threatened her with a knife as well.
Short confessed to using two knives—stating the first was too dull—to carry out the act and acknowledged to authorities that what she did was “evil” and “wrong.”
A federal court also ordered a mental health evaluation, citing concerns over Short’s ability to understand the legal proceedings or assist in her defense. However, her plea suggests she was deemed competent for trial.
“The tragedy of this case cannot be overstated,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “While this plea cannot undo the pain and loss, it brings accountability.”
Short remains in federal custody at the Jefferson County Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing, led by the FBI and the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and Henry W. Syms Jr.
Officials at Fort Eisenhower say they are working to support the family and community in the wake of this devastating loss.
Disclaimer: All data provided here is taken from public arrest records. This publication does not imply guilt or final conviction.
More Arrests in Featured on April 5, 2025
No other arrests found on this date in Featured.
