Thursday, November 02, 2006
Cassell was first elected sheriff in 1991
Timeline of Frank Cassell's career
Eric Brady | The Roanoke Times
Henry County Sheriff Frank Cassell walks outside the Poff Federal Building in Roanoke.
Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times
U.S. Attorney John Brownlee talks about the investigation of the Henry County Sheriff's Office at a press conference held today at the Poff Federal Building in Roanoke.
Related
Story
Indictment
Messsage board
Henry County Sheriff Frank Cassell’s single most famous case is without question the unsolved murders of 9-year-old Jennifer Short and her parents, Michael and Mary Short, which introduced the folksy, plain-spoken Cassell to a national audience. But that’s just one of many high profile cases and colorful incidents during Cassell’s five terms in office.
Born in Smyth County, Cassell spent most of his 32 years with the state police patrolling Henry County. He was first elected sheriff in 1991.
1995: Local tabloid-style Cable 6 runs campaign ads comparing Cassell to Adolph Hitler. Cassell expressed outrage at the time. Later he and controversial Cable 6 operator Charles Roark buried the hatchet.
1996: Cassell joined Henry County leaders in calling for state law enforcement help after U.S. News & World Report profiled the community of Sandy Level as a place of crack cocaine run amok. Regular patrols reduced violence there over the next few years.
February 2001: In response to a dance hall shooting, Cassell enforces a little-used county law that results in shutting down all dancing in the county for two months.
June 2001: A Henry County dive team discovers the body of a woman missing for 11 years in a barrel at the bottom of Philpott Lake. The case remains unsolved.
March 26, 2002: Henry County sheriff’s deputies wrestle Henry County Administrator Sid Clower to the ground and take a gun away after Clower makes what Cassell characterizes as a “suicide threat.” Clower is later convicted of three counts of embezzlement.
Aug. 15, 2002: The bodies of Michael Wayne Short and Mary Hall Short are discovered in their home in Oak Level. A national search begins for their missing 9-year-old daughter, Jennifer, thrusting Cassell into the national media spotlight.
Sept. 25, 2002: Skeletal remains are found near Stoneville, N.C., that are later confirmed to be the those of Jennifer Short. "She's gone now and she's safe now, and no evil can befall her," Cassell said after the remains were identified.
Oct. 4, 2002: Garrison Storm Bowman, a North Carolina man Cassell called a “person of interest” in the Short case, is arrested in Canada. Bowman is kept in custody for a month. He has never been charged with any crimes related to the Short case.
November 2003: Retired Virginia State Trooper Mike McPeek challenges Cassell in the election, criticizing his handling of the Short investigation. Cassell wins re-election and makes a public statement that he will support his right-hand man, Maj. Kimmy Nester, in the next sheriff’s race.
January 2004: Cassell appears in front of General Assembly members surrounded by deputies to ask lawmakers to increase pay for law enforcement.
January 2006: Henry County deputies find a Collinsville woman’s dismembered body. James Motes, her brother, is charged with first-degree murder.
September 2006: Cassell’s long-time right hand man, Maj. Kimmy Nester, is demoted to lieutenant for reasons not publicly discussed.
