AUGUSTA, GA – A 30-year-old mother, April Evalyn Short, faces murder charges following the tragic death of her infant son in a harrowing incident. Short, married to a U.S. Army staff sergeant, was arrested last week in a case that has left the community in shock.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Short was charged with murder under aggravating circumstances due to the alleged act of child abuse. The incident occurred on November 15, 2023, when Short, in a disturbing series of text messages to her husband, alluded to ominous religious beliefs and the impending fate of their youngest child.
Short’s husband, stationed at Fort Eisenhower Army Installation near Augusta, Georgia, rushed home after receiving the alarming texts. Upon arrival, he found Short had barricaded herself with their three children in the master bedroom. The situation escalated when Short attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended by law enforcement.
The couple’s youngest child was discovered in the bathroom with fatal neck wounds. Despite immediate medical attention, the infant was pronounced dead at the Army Medical Center. Disturbing details emerged from the testimony of the couple’s six-year-old child, who recounted her mother’s actions and statements during the incident.