[hergus]

Authorities Doubt Remains Are Those of Jennifer Short

Modified: 9/26/2002 11:08:30 AM
Stoneville, Rockingham County -
WFMY TV
At a 9:45 a.m. Press Conference in Rockingham County, Henry County Virginia Sheriff Frank Cassell says microscopic examination of the hair sample taken from the skeletal remains found near Stoneville yesterday are back. Initial tests indicate that the remains are not those of Jennifer Short, the little Bassett, Virginia girl missing since mid-August.

The bones were found Wednesday afternoon on Grogan Road near Stoneville. Tests in Virginia were based on DNA analysis which right now indicates there's not a match. However, bone samples are also being sent to the state medical examiner in North Carolina. Tests there will look at the actual age of the victim and other specific information, as well as how long the bones have likely been exposed to the elements in some way.

Sheriff Cassell says they've had several leads in the past week, into the disappearance of Jennifer Short, but those have not panned out. She's been missing for nearly 6 weeks, since her parents, Michael and Mary Short were found shot to death in their Bassett, Virginia home August 15.

Rockingham County deputies will continue their search of the area where the remains were found, including a pond which they drained overnight. Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page says some additional bone fragments have been located, but nothing such as clothing or personal effects that might help with the
identification. Rockingham County says they do not currently have any missing persons cases, but have sent out messages to other law enforcement agencies who might have an interest in the case.

[Neenah]

You are propagating a myth. Why would the police say there was a gun if there was not? What possible motive would LE have for that particular deception? Why are you assuming that all 40-50 neighbors knew there was a gun?,

The question was proposed to freedox, I read it and posted to the question directed to her., but you forgot to post the REASON why I thought that, so let me refresh you.

I said after what you posted of my comment.....:If it was known by the police that there was a gun involved and a threat of killing if MK told...there is NO WAY the PD would allow people to free roam.

We have NO WAY of knowing if the police were told about the gun at that point. We don't know if MK really said it. We don't know when Ed told the police that. We don't know why if Ed knew she was taken with a gun, why he didn't tell them. We don't know if Ed questioned his daughter first to get all the facts, or just ran to the neighbors pounding on doors. We don't know any of it. It would be speculation on my part as well as yours.

Common sense says a parent lovingly asks the daughter for all the details, after all, one of the girls is kidnapped. So my question all along was ..Why would the police allow those people to free roam if there was a gun involved?

If they didn't know that at the time, then that could explain alot of things, wouldn't it? Sometime that night they found out about the gun, because in the morning there was a Press Conference, and Dinse said E was taken at gunpoint. When did they get the information ? If you can't see this as at least warrenting questions, then so be it.

I would like to believe that the information from MK came out later that night. That would be the best answer to it.