Saturday, August 24, 2002
Groups offer rewards for information leading to Jennifer Short's return
More searches lead to same result in Short case

Investigators again interviewed relatives of the Shorts and conducted more searches near the family's home Friday.

By ZEKE BARLOW SPECIAL TO
THE ROANOKE TIMES

   COLLINSVILLE - Henry County Sheriff Frank Cassell stepped up to the microphone Friday afternoon and addressed the thinning crowd of reporters in much the same way he did all week.

    "Well folks, it's the same thing again," he said. "We're still searching, still interviewing, but there are no new clues."

    It's been Cassell's lament since 9-year-old Jennifer Short was abducted and her parents, Michael Short, 50, and Mary Short, 36, were slain nine days ago. Motives, suspects and Jennifer's whereabouts continue to elude the sheriff's department and the seven other local, state and federal agencies on the case.

    "It's the most bizarre thing I've ever seen," Cassell said.

    Relatives of the Shorts were interviewed again Friday in an effort to lead investigators to the person responsible for the crimes, though Cassell said he has no reason to think a relative might be involved.

    Cassell said tips on the case are dwindling despite an FBI news release Thursday asking anyone to notify authorities if they notice anyone behaving especially strangely. More of the land around the Shorts' home on U.S. 220 in Oak Level was searched Friday, as was a nearby pond, but investigators ended up as empty-handed as they have in all of the previous searches.

    A search warrant filed Thursday said investigators found four videotapes, ammunition, painted handprints, telephone numbers and photographs in the Short residence, but nothing more.

    Meanwhile, the anguish felt nationwide over Jennifer's disappearance has spawned new fund drives to help in the search. Chris Young, Mary Short's brother-in-law, read a statement from the Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation on Friday, detailing the organization's offer of a $10,000 reward for information leading to Jennifer's safe return.

    The fund was started after three women were killed near Yosemite National Park in 1999. One of the victims' parents put up a reward, which the foundation believes helped lead to a break in the case.

    The Crimestoppers program has also put up a minimum $1,000 reward. Another fund was started by a family friend, and donations can be made at the First National Bank in Boones Mill. A fourth was started Friday by a Martinsville man. The television show "America's Most Wanted" is scheduled to air a segment on Jennifer tonight.

    Jim Whitehead, another brother-in-law of Mary Short, accompanied Young at the news conference. He said people in his hometown in Alaska are talking about Jennifer. "It's going across the nation, and people are pulling together," he said.

    Anyone with information about Jennifer - who has brown hair, brown eyes and is 4-foot-3-inches tall - is asked to call the Henry County Sheriff's Office at (276) 638-8751 or (800) 843-5678.

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