Fort Eisenhower woman pleads guilty to murder in child’s death

AUGUSTA, GA:  A U.S. Army spouse at Fort Eisenhower awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to the stabbing murder of her infant son.

April Evalyn Short, 31, of Fort Eisenhower, pled guilty to Murder in the Second Degree, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The negotiated plea agreement subjects Short to a sentence of 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and five years of supervised release following her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“The plea agreement in this disturbing case represents a difficult but appropriate resolution to this tragic and shocking homicide,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons.

As described in the plea agreement, on Nov. 15, 2023, at Fort Eisenhower, Short killed her 11-month-old son “willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice aforethought,” using a knife.

Short remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.

“This plea is a testament to the outstanding investigative efforts of our Army CID personnel, particularly the child forensic interview team, as well as the dedication of the DOJ prosecution and Victim Advocacy teams, and is indicative of our commitment to ensure justice for victims of heinous crimes such as this,” said Steven Ausfeldt, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Southeast Field Office. “Army CID will continue to work closely with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to pursue those who would harm the most innocent members of our communities, and to hold them fully accountable for their actions.”

“April Short will now have 20 years to think about her heinous actions,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This plea cannot undo that tragedy and loss, but brings another measure of justice to those who knew and loved the child during his short life.”

The case is being investigated by Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr. and Patricia G. Rhodes.

For any questions, please call the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.