Fort Eisenhower Mother Pleads Guilty to Infant's Murder

April Evalyn Short, a 31-year-old Army spouse at Fort Eisenhower, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the November 2023 stabbing death of her 11-month-old son. As part of a plea agreement, she faces a 20-year prison sentence, along with substantial financial penalties and five years of supervised release. The case, described as tragic and shocking, involved Short allegedly killing her son 'willfully, deliberately, maliciously and with malice aforethought' while barricaded in their home. Initially, she had entered a not guilty plea, but she withdrew it in favor of the plea deal. Following a mental health evaluation, Short was deemed competent to stand trial despite exhibiting symptoms of psychosis. The sentencing will be scheduled upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.