I don't know these people at all, but sad and anything that may spark a lead would be wonderful for the remaining family.
HENRY COUNTY, Va. [2005] - Sheriff Harry Cassell and a dozen current or former employees of the Henry Country Sheriff's Office, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on racketeering charges.
A total of 20 defendants have been charged for their roles in a racketeering conspiracy that included the distribution of illegal drugs, theft of drugs and firearms under the custody of the Henry County Sheriff's Office, money laundering and obstruction of justice, U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee of the Western District of Virginia announced.
Cassell, 68, a former state trooper and sheriff since 1992, is in his 49th year in law enforcement. He has been charged with impeding the federal investigation and with money laundering. He has been released on $25,000 bond and Henry County supervisors are seeking his resignation.
Prosecutors say that for the past eight years, cocaine, steroids, marijuana and other drugs seized by the sheriff's department were then resold to the public.
“The members of this conspiracy took advantage of the trust placed in them as law enforcement officers,” stated U.S. Attorney Brownlee. “Their illegal activities included drug distribution, money laundering, and stealing property that was in the custody of the Henry County Sheriff's Office. Then, when they were confronted by investigators, the defendants lied in an attempt to hide their criminal conduct. The men and women in law enforcement are respected for their bravery and commitment to service. We will not allow the criminal activities of a small group to tarnish the honorable work that officers in this district perform each day.”
According to the indictment, since 1998, sworn officers, employees, and associates of the Henry County Sheriff's Office engaged in a continuous scheme to steal narcotics, firearms, and other contraband from the seized evidence property room. The defendants took cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and firearms, and then sold the stolen drugs and guns back into the community. The indictment also alleges that several of the defendants stole seized firearms and other contraband for their own personal use.
On March 4, 2005, agents from the Philadelphia office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) notified agents in Roanoke, Va., that an express mail package containing two kilograms of Ketamine was being delivered to a residence in Martinsville, Va. Ketamine is a sedative/date rape drug. DEA agents made a controlled delivery of the Ketamine to the Martinsville home and arrested William Randall Reed and charged him with illegal possession with the intent to distribute Ketamine.
We will never know, because the initial evidence was “handled” by the crooked cops in my post above. My guess: Ask the convicted sheriff’s what REALLY happened to the Shorts. (wrong place, wrong time?)
It’s hard to believe it’s been 6 1/2 years. I don’t think we’ll ever find out what really happened to this family.