A Fort Eisenhower woman has entered a guilty plea in federal court after admitting to fatally stabbing her infant son in a violent incident that took place last November.
April Evalyn Short, 31, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the November 15, 2023 killing of her 11-month-old child. The plea, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, could lead to a 20-year sentence in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release and significant financial penalties. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
“The plea agreement in this disturbing case represents a difficult but appropriate resolution to this tragic and shocking homicide,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons.
According to investigators, Short sent her husband, a drill sergeant stationed at Fort Eisenhower, a text message at 8:01 a.m. on the day of the crime, warning, “The days of darkness are upon us.” Alarmed, he rushed home and discovered that his wife had locked herself in a bedroom with their three children. After he was unable to gain access, he called 911.
When officers arrived, Short exited the room with the couple’s two older children, ages 6 and 11, and attempted to flee in the family vehicle. Authorities stopped her and entered the home, where they found the 11-month-old boy in the bathroom with a neck wound. He was transported to Eisenhower Army Medical Center and pronounced dead at 9:34 a.m.
During interviews, the other children told authorities their mother had said she wanted the baby to “be with Jesus and God.” Short later admitted to investigators that she knew her actions were “wrong” and “evil.”
Short remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Sentencing will be scheduled following the completion of a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from the FBI. Officials commended the efforts of all agencies involved, highlighting the commitment to bringing justice in cases involving crimes against children.
