Fort Eisenhower Mother Indicted On Federal Murder Charges

The Fort Eisenhower mother accused of fatally stabbing her 11-month-old son at the family's home on post last month has been indicted on two counts of murder by a federal grand jury.

April Evalyn Short, of Fort Eisenhower, formerly Fort Gordon, is accused of stabbing and cutting the baby in the neck with an edged weapon November 15.  The child died that day at Eisenhower Army Medical Center.

Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said Short was indicted today on charges of Premeditated Murder and Felony Murder.  In a statement two days after the child's death, Steinberg said Short was being charged with Murder with an aggravating circumstance of the alleged crime occurring during an act of child abuse.

Short is the wife of Staff Sgt. James Short, who has been a drill sergeant at Fort Eisenhower since 2021.  Sgt. Short was at work the morning of November 15 when he got a text from his wife that he said concerned him regarding the safety of the child.  He went home and found his wife barricaded in a bathroom with the baby and two other children, ages 6 and 11.

Mrs. Short came out once police arrived. She tried to leave with the other two children, but was taken into custody.  The six-year-old told authorities her mother had threatened to cut her if she didn't stop crying.

Mrs. Short was ordered by the court to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

"There is reasonable cause to believe April Short may suffer from a mental disease or defect rendering her mentally incompetent to the extent she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against her or to assist properly in her defense," the court order states.

Short is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and awaits further proceedings.  She is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.