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DNA Confirms Remains Are Those of Missing Jennifer Short

Aired October 04, 2002 - 14:32   ET

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

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


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The mystery of what happened to Jennifer Short has been solved, but it is an ending -- or it isn't the ending for many people -- or that people had hoped for.
Skeletal remains found have been confirmed of those of the missing 9-year-old.

CNN's Charles Molineaux is live from Rockingham County, North Carolina where the announcement was made just a short time ago -- Charles.

CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes and Kyra, of course, in a summer when we had a whole series of very prominent missing child cases, this is one of the more blood thirsty -- blood curdling instances. Of course, Jennifer Short disappeared the same time as her parents found dead, both shot in the dead in their home in Virginia. And we heard that overnight, detectives had figured out that DNA on remains found in North Carolina does, in fact, match up with Jennifer Short, so she is also considered -- now determined dead.

This is a triple murder investigation, as well as a kidnapping.

Right now with us, we have with us Detective -- Sheriff Frank Cassell from Henry County, Virginia as well as Sheriff Frank Page from Rockingham County, North Carolina.

Sheriff Page, let's start out with you. When you first heard word of the remains being discovered here in North Carolina, did you start to make the connections immediately?

SHERIFF SAM PAGE, ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C: Well, not necessarily, but we did -- we did make notification with the Henry County authorities in the beginning stages, and they assisted us all the way through until the remains were identified.

MOLINEAUX: As it seemed, as you found out more about whoever this person was found dead, that it looked like -- very much likely might be Jennifer?

PAGE: As it continued and as some comparisons were made at the lab, there were more and more indicators leading toward a young child, a 9 or 10-year-old child, it began leaning in that direction.

And then again last night, late, we found out the results about a positive match reference to DNA collections from the victim and also from our child that was left remains.

MOLINEAUX: Sheriff Cassell, you've been obviously with this since August 15, when the word first got out about Jennifer's parents being found dead and she being missing.

How's this been?

SHERIFF FRANK CASSELL, HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA: Pretty rough. It's been very emotional. It's been a difficult case. We've spent a lot of time on it -- and had very little results, a lot of dead ends.

MOLINEAUX: What about the actual investigation? What do you know? It seems as if there's been a real paucity of information.

CASSELL: Well, the murder scene was fairly clean. We don't have a lot of real great evidence. But we do have some evidence, and we're going forward.

MOLINEAUX: Sheriff Page, we have word in local media reports today that a North Carolina man's trailer was actually searched and that he was found at least to be in a possession of a map marking the position roughly of where the Shorts live and that he had a dispute with somebody involved in the trailer moving business which, of course, was Michael Short's business.

Any significance to this man?

PAGE: Well again, right at this time, we're looking at the person primarily as a witness in this case. There seemed to be some inferences there, but we, as an investigator, we want to continue on and look at the facts and, again, interview this person, you know, as quickly as we can along with any other witnesses that may show a connection.

MOLINEAUX: What about reports that he had threatened somebody and, in fact, has apparently now left the country?

PAGE: Well, I have heard that information about the threats, but -- and we do know where the gentleman is at. He is in Canada and we have access to him. So, we do know where he's at.

MOLINEAUX: OK, thank you very much, Sheriff Sam Page and Sheriff Frank Cassell of Henry County, Virginia and Rockingham County, North Carolina.

Kyra, again, the word we're getting is Jennifer Short has been found. She was, in fact, murdered. This is another -- what one of the sheriffs referred to as "heart breaking piece in an ongoing and bizarre mystery."

PHILLIPS: Charles Molineaux, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 4, 2002 - 14:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The mystery of what happened to Jennifer Short has been solved, but it is an ending -- or it isn't the ending for many people -- or that people had hoped for.
Skeletal remains found have been confirmed of those of the missing 9-year-old.

CNN's Charles Molineaux is live from Rockingham County, North Carolina where the announcement was made just a short time ago -- Charles.

CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes and Kyra, of course, in a summer when we had a whole series of very prominent missing child cases, this is one of the more blood thirsty -- blood curdling instances. Of course, Jennifer Short disappeared the same time as her parents found dead, both shot in the dead in their home in Virginia. And we heard that overnight, detectives had figured out that DNA on remains found in North Carolina does, in fact, match up with Jennifer Short, so she is also considered -- now determined dead.

This is a triple murder investigation, as well as a kidnapping.

Right now with us, we have with us Detective -- Sheriff Frank Cassell from Henry County, Virginia as well as Sheriff Frank Page from Rockingham County, North Carolina.

Sheriff Page, let's start out with you. When you first heard word of the remains being discovered here in North Carolina, did you start to make the connections immediately?

SHERIFF SAM PAGE, ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C: Well, not necessarily, but we did -- we did make notification with the Henry County authorities in the beginning stages, and they assisted us all the way through until the remains were identified.

MOLINEAUX: As it seemed, as you found out more about whoever this person was found dead, that it looked like -- very much likely might be Jennifer?

PAGE: As it continued and as some comparisons were made at the lab, there were more and more indicators leading toward a young child, a 9 or 10-year-old child, it began leaning in that direction.

And then again last night, late, we found out the results about a positive match reference to DNA collections from the victim and also from our child that was left remains.

MOLINEAUX: Sheriff Cassell, you've been obviously with this since August 15, when the word first got out about Jennifer's parents being found dead and she being missing.

How's this been?

SHERIFF FRANK CASSELL, HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA: Pretty rough. It's been very emotional. It's been a difficult case. We've spent a lot of time on it -- and had very little results, a lot of dead ends.

MOLINEAUX: What about the actual investigation? What do you know? It seems as if there's been a real paucity of information.

CASSELL: Well, the murder scene was fairly clean. We don't have a lot of real great evidence. But we do have some evidence, and we're going forward.

MOLINEAUX: Sheriff Page, we have word in local media reports today that a North Carolina man's trailer was actually searched and that he was found at least to be in a possession of a map marking the position roughly of where the Shorts live and that he had a dispute with somebody involved in the trailer moving business which, of course, was Michael Short's business.

Any significance to this man?

PAGE: Well again, right at this time, we're looking at the person primarily as a witness in this case. There seemed to be some inferences there, but we, as an investigator, we want to continue on and look at the facts and, again, interview this person, you know, as quickly as we can along with any other witnesses that may show a connection.

MOLINEAUX: What about reports that he had threatened somebody and, in fact, has apparently now left the country?

PAGE: Well, I have heard that information about the threats, but -- and we do know where the gentleman is at. He is in Canada and we have access to him. So, we do know where he's at.

MOLINEAUX: OK, thank you very much, Sheriff Sam Page and Sheriff Frank Cassell of Henry County, Virginia and Rockingham County, North Carolina.

Kyra, again, the word we're getting is Jennifer Short has been found. She was, in fact, murdered. This is another -- what one of the sheriffs referred to as "heart breaking piece in an ongoing and bizarre mystery."

PHILLIPS: Charles Molineaux, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com