A U.S. Army wife at Fort Eisenhower has been accused of killing her young child after officials
FORT EISENHOWER,
Ga. — A U.S. Army wife at Fort Eisenhower has been accused of killing her young
child after officials say she made claims about wanting him to be “with Jesus
and God.”
Court officials
announced Friday that 30-year-old April Evalyn Short of Fort Eisenhower was
charged with the murder of her 11-month-old child.
According to a
criminal complaint obtained by Channel 2 Action News, James Short, a military
staff sergeant stationed at Fort Eisenhower, received a text from April Short
on Wednesday morning.
Court documents
said the text message from April Short made references to “God” and stated that
“the days of darkness are upon us” and “We [James and April Short] would be
together again.”
After receiving
the text messages, the report said James Short left work to go home and check
on his wife. When he arrived, officials said April Short had barricaded herself
in their bedroom with their 11-year-old, 6-year-old and 11-month-old and was
refusing to come out.
Court documents
said when authorities arrived after being called by James Short, they worked to
try and get April Short to leave the room.
Eventually, the
report said April Short walked out of the room with the 11-year-old and
6-year-old, pulling away from officers, and walked out of the home. Officials
said she then got into her car with the two children and attempted to drive
away but was stopped by officers and taken into custody.
After April Short
walked out of the room, authorities realized she did not have her 11-month-old
with her. The report said when James Short and the officers went into the
bathroom, they discovered the 11-month-old who had been stabbed. The child was
pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after.
When interviewing
April Short following her arrest, the court document said she admitted to
hurting the child. Her two children told authorities that she told them she was
doing it because then the child could “be with Jesus and God.”
April Short was
charged by federal complaint with murder, with an aggravating circumstance of
the alleged crime occurring during an act of child abuse, court officials said.
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