VA VA - Michael, 50, Mary, 36, & Jennifer Short, 9, Bassett, 15 Aug 2002

[PrairieWind]

LE has been vague/cagey about this question, but they've referenced having sent samples to unspecified outside specialists. It sounds like it's a very small sample and they're concerned about using it up or corrupting it in some way.

Do we know anything about the DNA that was collected. I just remember hearing at some point that they had collected something, but that was it. Do we know where it was found?

 

[Zuzuspetals]

Do we know anything about the DNA that was collected. I just remember hearing at some point that they had collected something, but that was it. Do we know where it was found?

They haven't said. I remember reading somewhere that the surviving family members were surprised that there was DNA to be tested in the first place, so it's possible that they don't know anything about it either. My guess is that the sample came from somewhere in the house...like in Jennifer's room or wherever the phone line was cut.

 

[PrairieWind]

They haven't said. I remember reading somewhere that the surviving family members were surprised that there was DNA to be tested in the first place, so it's possible that they don't know anything about it either. My guess is that the sample came from somewhere in the house...like in Jennifer's room or wherever the phone line was cut.

Or could it possibly have come from something where Jennifer's remains were found?

 

[Zuzuspetals]

Or could it possibly have come from something where Jennifer's remains were found?

It's possible, but I personally think the house is more likely, considering the state of her remains when they were discovered. At the same time, though, I remember reading/hearing that they resorted to dusting the walls for prints because of how little bio evidence could be found in the house...so who knows.

 

[PrairieWind]

It's possible, but I personally think the house is more likely, considering the state of her remains when they were discovered. At the same time, though, I remember reading/hearing that they resorted to dusting the walls for prints because of how little bio evidence could be found in the house...so who knows.

I agree it would be far more likely to be found at the home. But depending upon the DNA and location in the house, also makes things more complicated since I'm sure there are good reasons for various people's DNA to be in the home. But there may be a reason why they think this DNA is linked to the crime. We just don't know enough yet.

 

[Simply Southern]

And do we know who or what service was looking at the DNA? Any Forensic genealogy DNA specialists like Othram, or just in house police forensics?

There is no DNA. The bodies were exhumed to confirm JS was in fact their child.

Moo... As most of the MSM articles are archived and not accessible.

 

[Simply Southern]

And do we know who or what service was looking at the DNA? Any Forensic genealogy DNA specialists like Othram, or just in house police forensics?

The crime scene was very contaminated. Local LE and all surrounding counties ascended on the crime scene. Moo

 

[Simply Southern]

LE has been vague/cagey about this question, but they've referenced having sent samples to unspecified outside specialists. It sounds like it's a very small sample and they're concerned about using it up or corrupting it in some way.

The only DNA samples tested we're both parents and the child.
No DNA was collected from the crime scene.
Moo

 

[atomicsciencegal]

I agree it would be far more likely to be found at the home. But depending upon the DNA and location in the house, also makes things more complicated since I'm sure there are good reasons for various people's DNA to be in the home. But there may be a reason why they think this DNA is linked to the crime. We just don't know enough yet.

Such good thoughts, friends. And, if they never test the DNA because they have a minimal amount and they’re saving it for some sort of ‘better’ test… we will likely never know why they think it’s linked (as opposed to the sample just being unknown DNA collected from the crime scene or area of her recovery) regardless of where LE found it.
It could be the most innoculous DNA related in no reason to the case. It could be the perpetrator. And it could easily be another 5 years before the next DNA breakthrough is made that can usefully apply to whatever the form of sample they have is. I think genetic genealogy will be the only way to move past this, but if they are unwilling/unable to try that route then we are no further in knowing what happened.
To have already wanted justice for so long, and then to have a possible DNA break in this case that they frustratingly have to sit on…. Waiting is hard.

 

[atomicsciencegal]

The only DNA samples tested we're both parents and the child.
No DNA was collected from the crime scene.
Moo

This news article refutes that. A quote from the article:

• Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said DNA evidence was collected inside the home, but has not specified exactly what evidence was located.

 

[atomicsciencegal]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

Newer articles still refer to there being DNA collected. This article is about a year old, but in it the Sheriff says:

‘As we speak the evidence in the short case is being retested with the most advanced DNA testing in the world,” said Sheriff Davis.’

So they must have something.

<modsnip: Quoted/referenced post was removed>

 

[PrairieWind]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> ... there IS DNA evidence. That it might be compromised to an extent it would not be capable of ensuring a conviction is one thing, but it might help in providing some closure. You seem to be implying the case should just be given up, and I don't think that is the case. If you what you imply is correct, this case WILL be solved. If this was just a random matter, it might not.

 

[Simply Southern]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

Newer articles still refer to there being DNA collected. This article is about a year old, but in it the Sheriff says:

‘As we speak the evidence in the short case is being retested with the most advanced DNA testing in the world,” said Sheriff Davis.’

So they must have something.

<modsnip: Quoted/referenced post was removed>

Moo... The only DNA was from Mary, Michael and Jennifer.

I wouldn't guarantee that there's any evidence left. Sheriff Cassell and his cronnies were Masters at covering up, destroying evidence, selling guns and drugs out of the evidence locker, ran a prostitution ring with four houses, four houses growing marijuana, three locations selling date rape drugs. It involved nurses, a vice president of a local bank, a local realtor, a UPS delivery driver and drug contacts in Mexico and Texas. There are thousands of hours of taped conversations with officers, bank employees, nurses, and more that were played by a local station. They own the town.
VSP worked undercover with the local garage that serviced all the police vehicles and most of their personal cars. Vehicles we're wired to record all conversation, a couple of cars actually had video.

I cannot stress enough the severity and extent of corruption. The day of the arrest of the sheriff and his cronies, VSP helicopter swarm the sky just before Dawn. They landed in his front yards and several other high ranking officers , and kick the doors in. This was one of the largest drug operations in the state of Virginia. VSP assumed responsibility for the entire Sheriff's Department. No one was allowed in or out except Virginia State Police.
Armored vehicles surrounded the entire Sheriff's office.

No I don't believe this case will be solved. I do personally believe, that the sheriff's department was involved and any evidence destroyed.

Moo...

 

[Oakie]

I cannot stress enough the severity and extent of corruption. The day of the arrest of the sheriff and his cronies, VSP helicopter swarm the sky just before Dawn. They landed in his front yards and several other high ranking officers , and kick the doors in. This was one of the largest drug operations in the state of Virginia. VSP assumed responsibility for the entire Sheriff's Department. No one was allowed in or out except Virginia State Police.

From the Martinsville Bulletin, 11-2-2006:
( Henry County Sheriff's Office under investigation; 20 indicted )

Henry County Sheriff H. Frank Cassell was ordered released on $25,000 bond Thursday afternoon following his arrest earlier in the day in connection with an alleged racketeering conspiracy.

Under terms of the bond, Cassell will be allowed to return to work but he cannot discuss the case with his co-defendants or county or sheriff's office employees, Judge Magistrate Michael F. Urbanski ruled.
Cassell, Maj. James Keaton and 18 others were indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in connection with the alleged conspiracy, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Roanoke said Thursday.


<modsnip: Copyright violation of more than 10% of article>

 

[Zuzuspetals]

Thanks for this additional context. Having also looked into (and been horrified by) the extent of the corruption in the department, I agree that there’s likely a link between the HCSD corruption case and the fact that the Short murders remain unsolved all these years later.

But I’ve never fully bought the theory that LE was involved in the abduction/murders themselves.

Not because I underestimate the truly massive scope of the corruption case (or am in any way interested in defending the long list of officials who were charged)…but because if LE was covering up for one of their own, wouldn’t they make sure the case was investigated in-house rather than basically inviting attention from the feds? Especially since FBI involvement would also mean risking the exposure of the corruption that had been going on in the department since 1998?

If I understand correctly, the FBI originally got involved in the Short case because a child under the age of 12 had been abducted from her home. And once her remains were found (i.e. there was no longer a child abduction to investigate), they stayed involved…because by that point the case had crossed state lines from VA into NC.

So basically: I agree that the corruption case is a big part of why the Short murders remain unsolved to this day. But I think that if LE is covering something up, it’s that they bungled the investigation—not that they were involved in the crimes themselves.

 

[atomicsciencegal]

Thanks for this additional context. Having also looked into (and been horrified by) the extent of the corruption in the department, I agree that there’s likely a link between the HCSD corruption case and the fact that the Short murders remain unsolved all these years later.

But I’ve never fully bought the theory that LE was involved in the abduction/murders themselves.

Not because I underestimate the truly massive scope of the corruption case (or am in any way interested in defending the long list of officials who were charged)…but because if LE was covering up for one of their own, wouldn’t they make sure the case was investigated in-house rather than basically inviting attention from the feds? Especially since FBI involvement would also mean risking the exposure of the corruption that had been going on in the department since 1998?

If I understand correctly, the FBI originally got involved in the Short case because a child under the age of 12 had been abducted from her home. And once her remains were found (i.e. there was no longer a child abduction to investigate), they stayed involved…because by that point the case had crossed state lines from VA into NC.

So basically: I agree that the corruption case is a big part of why the Short murders remain unsolved to this day. But I think that if LE is covering something up, it’s that they bungled the investigation—not that they were involved in the crimes themselves.

It’s clear the department was heavily corrupt. And hard agree with you, @Zuzuspetals - I think they’re covering up their ineptitude, not some sort of involvement. (Especially since it wasn’t used to plant evidence to convict someone they wanted gone, or used in any way to be of benefit to the department. I don’t think they would have dumped her body over state lines, bringing in additional police jurisdictions and more LE eyes on the Sheriffs department, if they had anything real to do with it.)

 

[Mwalls6392]

I joined for this case specifically. I am a local and this case still haunts our area. I am just starting to dig into what is here, but I’m glad to see people still care about this family. The corruption of Henry County at the time under Cassell, was horrible and played a part in this not being solved. Since the house being burnt down and demolished it has brought it all back up over the years.

 

[DoubleN1993]

Nice to s

I joined for this case specifically. I am a local and this case still haunts our area. I am just starting to dig into what is here, but I’m glad to see people still care about this family. The corruption of Henry County at the time under Cassell, was horrible and played a part in this not being solved. Since the house being burnt down and demolished it has brought it all back up over the years.

Nice to see a local still remembering the horrid time for The Shorts Case.

 

[Zuzuspetals]

For people from the area or who have followed the Short case since the beginning:

-What TV news outlets do you remember being most involved in the coverage of the case?

-Any idea where someone could find archival footage of the national broadcasts about the case, such as the episode of Connie Chung Tonight (which aired in August 2002) and of America's Most Wanted (from January 2011)?

 

[TedMac]

For people from the area or who have followed the Short case since the beginning:

-What TV news outlets do you remember being most involved in the coverage of the case?

-Any idea where someone could find archival footage of the national broadcasts about the case, such as the episode of Connie Chung Tonight (which aired in August 2002) and of America's Most Wanted (from January 2011)?

WFMY Channel 2 of Greensboro and the Greensboro News & Record had a lot of the initial coverage