Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
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Friday, January 22, 2010
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer
The investigation into the Short family slayings remains focused in the South Piedmont region of Virginia.
A task force of local, state and federal authorities reported recently that the last several months led to increased leads. Based on information from those leads, investigators will be interviewing several people in the South Piedmont area of Virginia, according to www.fbi.gov.
The site does not define the region.
Michael and Mary Short were found shot to death in their Oak Level home Aug. 16, 2002. Each died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Their daughter, 9-year-old Jennifer, was missing and presumed abducted at the time.
DNA tests determined remains found about six weeks later in Rockingham County, N.C., belonged to Jennifer Short. She also suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, police have said.
Although the nucleus of the investigation often was centered in Henry, Franklin and Rockingham counties, it has stretched as far north as remote areas of Canada and other states, including South Carolina, where the family had planned to move, authorities have said.
Task force members also covered many leads that primarily were generated from media attention to a composite drawing of a man seated in a 1998-2002 model 4500 Series International Truck seen near the Short home on Aug. 16, 2002. Witnesses said the man had a weathered complexion and appeared to be in his 40s.
Anyone who did business with the Shorts’ family-owned MS Mobile Home moving company between January and Aug. 15, 2002, is asked to contact authorities, as are former full- and part-time employees of Michael Short, including migrant workers.
Henry County Sheriff's Lt. Kimmy Nester suggested that anyone with any information to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-225-5324 or the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 638-8751.
Rewards of nearly $70,000 are available for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. |
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