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CNN Live Today

Affidavit: Guns Found in Virginia Couple's Home

Aired August 19, 2002 - 13:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators are unveiling new clues in a baffling murder and kidnapping case in Virginia. Nine-year-old Jennifer Short disappeared last week, after her parents were found dead in their home.
Our Jeanne Meserve is live from Collinsville, Virginia, with the latest on that case -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, first I want to share with you some videotape. These are new pictures of young Jennifer Short that was shot of her during a school performance. She was in the third grade.

Now, she was due to enter the fourth grade -- is due to enter the fourth grade one week from today.

We have now had a chance to look at the inventory from the search of the Short home that was conducted Thursday after the bodies were found; .22 caliber shell casings found next to the bodies of Mary and Michael Short. Those are Jennifer's parents. In addition, a .22- caliber weapon was found, and ammunition. Was this the weapon that was used to kill the Shorts? We don't know.

The sheriff was asked about that today. He said that the appropriate tests were being done, but when he got the results, he wasn't going to share them with us.

In addition, a shotgun was found in the house, and according to the inventory, an interesting but puzzling item. They lifted a latent impression of the words, "I am glad to see from the garage door." Significant, because Michael's body was found in that garage last Thursday morning at about 9:00 a.m.

Now, crime investigators were still at the Short home this morning. They have collected a lot of evidence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF H.F. CASSELL, HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA: We took bags and bags and bags of evidence. We took all sorts of evidence, and none of this can be -- it's going to take a while to go through this stuff. We had some of what we considered crucial evidence. They came in and looked at that over the weekend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Today, rescue workers were out looking at a pond on a farm near to the Short property. They went through this for about two-and-a-half hours with underwater cameras, also with various kinds of dredging equipment. They found nothing.

Also, searchers are out on horseback, combing over the area behind the Short residence one more time. The sheriff saying there is no particular reason to look in these areas. It simply seems the prudent thing to do.

Still no sightings of Jennifer, no suspects in the case.

Carol -- back to you.

LIN: All right, thank you very much, Jeanne Meserve with the latest from Collinsville, Virginia.

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