Short, Liana, 8, Mark (MJ), 5 and Willow, 2, flew to heaven with their mother, Megan, on August 6, 2016.
Mischievous children they were.
Liana was an avid reader, currently enjoying the original version of "Alice in Wonderland." She was witty, sassy, loved school, art, dressing up, parties, Barbies, princesses, and playing tricks on her family. Plus, she would always reveal the end of a movie.
MJ's sweetness didn't overshadow his roughness. He approved of hugs, but kisses were out. Monster games, hide and seek, tag, swings at the playground and games that involved running after him. He mostly loved cuddling and watching a movie. He had a contagious smile.
Willow was a warrior from birth, born with a Congenital Heart Defect and undergoing a heart transplant at 6 days old. Her second home for the first year was CHOP, where she became an expert at putting on EKG stickers and other medical procedures. Yet, she loved life and was the happiest child ever. She was funny, loved Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, dancing, taking walks, pulling all the tissues out of a box, opening the refrigerator every few minutes and opening the pantry.
Missing them the most are their Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Liana, MJ and Willow's Life Celebration at John F. Givnish of Academy Road, 10975 Academy Rd., Phila, PA 19154 on Thursday from 6:00-9:00pm and at Our Lady of Calvary Church, 11024 Knights Rd., Phila, PA 19154 on Friday from 10:00-11:00am followed by their Memorial Mass at 11:00am. Int. Our Lady of Grace Cem.
In lieu of flowers, honor the children with a donation to Gift of Life Family House or Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiac Center.
--------------------------------------------------
"Authorities in Berks County, Pa., said Sunday a family of five died in an apparent murder-suicide a year after newspapers nationwide wrote about their struggle to obtain a drug to prevent their 1-year-old daughter from rejecting her transplanted heart.
District Attorney John Adams said the bodies of Mark Short, 40; his wife, Megan, 33; and their children Liana, 8, Mark, 5, and Willow, 2, were found Saturday by police in their home in Sinking Spring, Pa.
Adams said a handwritten note that "appeared to be a 'murder-suicide' note" was found in the family's home Saturday afternoon. Police said they found all five dead of gunshot wounds and a handgun near one of the adults, but they didn't say which one they believe was the shooter.
Police said they learned from a family member that Megan Short missed a lunch date and could not be contacted by phone. The family member contacted the police, who said the couple had "domestic issues" in the past.
The family was featured in an October 2014 story in the Reading (Pa.) Eagle, detailing how Willow, then 5 months old, had undergone a heart transplant at 1 week old. In July 2015, The New York Times published a feature story on the family detailing the family's struggles obtaining anti-rejection medication for Willow.
Last April, Megan Short blogged about her struggles with her child's condition, writing of anxiety and nightmares, saying, it took her “nearly two years to recognize how much I was truly impacted by the experiences.”
Short added, “I don’t think PTSD ever truly goes away but, with therapy, medication, and the right support, I have begun to loosen its grip on me.”
She also said she experienced "survivor's guilt" when children with similar problems from other families passed away.
"As I work on my own mental healing, I wanted to share my experience so that other heart parents know they are not alone.""
Greg Toppo, USATODAY 6:24 p.m. EDT August 7, 2016
--------------------------------------------------
Megan Short was all set to leave her husband and move with her three children into a new home on August 6.
She had leased a residence in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and relatives were waiting there for her that day. All that remained to be done was for her estranged husband, Mark Short, to rent a moving van and help her move belongings from their Sinking Spring home.
But Megan Short and her children never made it there.
Mark Short killed his 33-year-old wife and the couple's three children, 8-year-old Liana, 5-year-old Mark Jr., and 2-year-old Willow, before turning the gun on himself, Berks County District Attorney John Adams said at a news conference Monday. Willow survived a heart transplant at 6 days old, and her story made national headlines.
The couple had "domestic and marital problems," some of which led to police calls, Adams said. But none of them resulted in charges or arrests, and Megan Short declined to obtain protective order against her husband, Adams said.
"This was a very, very unfortunate incident," he said.
An investigation revealed a timeline of troubling signs.
In June, security in a Philadelphia hotel was called to respond to a domestic dispute in a room the Shorts were staying in, Adams said. He did not specify whether any charges resulted from the encounter.
On July 18, Sinking Spring police officers responded to a domestic dispute at the Short home. No physical injuries were found and no charges were filed.
The responding officers told Short how to get a protection from abuse order order, "but she chose not to," Adams said.
Mark Short purchased the .38-caliber five-shot revolver handgun and a stock of ammunition from a licensed gun dealership on July 15. Ten days later, Megan Short leased the Yardley home and began making plans to leave.
Mark Short was "demoted" at his job on August 1, Adams said. Four days later, the day before he killed them, he took his three children to Hershey Park, an amusement area, Adams said.
Megan Short's mother called Sinking Spring police after her daughter did not show up on August 6.
Police found their bodies and the family dog in the family's Sinking Spring home, dead from gunshot wounds, Adams said. Mark Short left a note admitting to buying the gun and killing his family, likely written after he killed his family, Adams said.
"I don't know that anything that can be learned, other than that leaving an abusive relationship is often a very dangerous time for a victim, so we urge anyone who's in a similar situation to get a safety plan and contact a local domestic violence agency for assistance," the prosecutor said.
By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
Updated 9:24 PM ET, Mon August 15, 2016
Mischievous children they were.
Liana was an avid reader, currently enjoying the original version of "Alice in Wonderland." She was witty, sassy, loved school, art, dressing up, parties, Barbies, princesses, and playing tricks on her family. Plus, she would always reveal the end of a movie.
MJ's sweetness didn't overshadow his roughness. He approved of hugs, but kisses were out. Monster games, hide and seek, tag, swings at the playground and games that involved running after him. He mostly loved cuddling and watching a movie. He had a contagious smile.
Willow was a warrior from birth, born with a Congenital Heart Defect and undergoing a heart transplant at 6 days old. Her second home for the first year was CHOP, where she became an expert at putting on EKG stickers and other medical procedures. Yet, she loved life and was the happiest child ever. She was funny, loved Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, dancing, taking walks, pulling all the tissues out of a box, opening the refrigerator every few minutes and opening the pantry.
Missing them the most are their Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Liana, MJ and Willow's Life Celebration at John F. Givnish of Academy Road, 10975 Academy Rd., Phila, PA 19154 on Thursday from 6:00-9:00pm and at Our Lady of Calvary Church, 11024 Knights Rd., Phila, PA 19154 on Friday from 10:00-11:00am followed by their Memorial Mass at 11:00am. Int. Our Lady of Grace Cem.
In lieu of flowers, honor the children with a donation to Gift of Life Family House or Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiac Center.
--------------------------------------------------
"Authorities in Berks County, Pa., said Sunday a family of five died in an apparent murder-suicide a year after newspapers nationwide wrote about their struggle to obtain a drug to prevent their 1-year-old daughter from rejecting her transplanted heart.
District Attorney John Adams said the bodies of Mark Short, 40; his wife, Megan, 33; and their children Liana, 8, Mark, 5, and Willow, 2, were found Saturday by police in their home in Sinking Spring, Pa.
Adams said a handwritten note that "appeared to be a 'murder-suicide' note" was found in the family's home Saturday afternoon. Police said they found all five dead of gunshot wounds and a handgun near one of the adults, but they didn't say which one they believe was the shooter.
Police said they learned from a family member that Megan Short missed a lunch date and could not be contacted by phone. The family member contacted the police, who said the couple had "domestic issues" in the past.
The family was featured in an October 2014 story in the Reading (Pa.) Eagle, detailing how Willow, then 5 months old, had undergone a heart transplant at 1 week old. In July 2015, The New York Times published a feature story on the family detailing the family's struggles obtaining anti-rejection medication for Willow.
Last April, Megan Short blogged about her struggles with her child's condition, writing of anxiety and nightmares, saying, it took her “nearly two years to recognize how much I was truly impacted by the experiences.”
Short added, “I don’t think PTSD ever truly goes away but, with therapy, medication, and the right support, I have begun to loosen its grip on me.”
She also said she experienced "survivor's guilt" when children with similar problems from other families passed away.
"As I work on my own mental healing, I wanted to share my experience so that other heart parents know they are not alone.""
Greg Toppo, USATODAY 6:24 p.m. EDT August 7, 2016
--------------------------------------------------
Megan Short was all set to leave her husband and move with her three children into a new home on August 6.
She had leased a residence in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and relatives were waiting there for her that day. All that remained to be done was for her estranged husband, Mark Short, to rent a moving van and help her move belongings from their Sinking Spring home.
But Megan Short and her children never made it there.
Mark Short killed his 33-year-old wife and the couple's three children, 8-year-old Liana, 5-year-old Mark Jr., and 2-year-old Willow, before turning the gun on himself, Berks County District Attorney John Adams said at a news conference Monday. Willow survived a heart transplant at 6 days old, and her story made national headlines.
The couple had "domestic and marital problems," some of which led to police calls, Adams said. But none of them resulted in charges or arrests, and Megan Short declined to obtain protective order against her husband, Adams said.
"This was a very, very unfortunate incident," he said.
An investigation revealed a timeline of troubling signs.
In June, security in a Philadelphia hotel was called to respond to a domestic dispute in a room the Shorts were staying in, Adams said. He did not specify whether any charges resulted from the encounter.
On July 18, Sinking Spring police officers responded to a domestic dispute at the Short home. No physical injuries were found and no charges were filed.
The responding officers told Short how to get a protection from abuse order order, "but she chose not to," Adams said.
Mark Short purchased the .38-caliber five-shot revolver handgun and a stock of ammunition from a licensed gun dealership on July 15. Ten days later, Megan Short leased the Yardley home and began making plans to leave.
Mark Short was "demoted" at his job on August 1, Adams said. Four days later, the day before he killed them, he took his three children to Hershey Park, an amusement area, Adams said.
Megan Short's mother called Sinking Spring police after her daughter did not show up on August 6.
Police found their bodies and the family dog in the family's Sinking Spring home, dead from gunshot wounds, Adams said. Mark Short left a note admitting to buying the gun and killing his family, likely written after he killed his family, Adams said.
"I don't know that anything that can be learned, other than that leaving an abusive relationship is often a very dangerous time for a victim, so we urge anyone who's in a similar situation to get a safety plan and contact a local domestic violence agency for assistance," the prosecutor said.
By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
Updated 9:24 PM ET, Mon August 15, 2016
Short, Liana, 8, Mark (MJ), 5 and Willow, 2, flew to heaven with their mother, Megan, on August 6, 2016.
Mischievous children they were.
Liana was an avid reader, currently enjoying the original version of "Alice in Wonderland." She was witty, sassy, loved school, art, dressing up, parties, Barbies, princesses, and playing tricks on her family. Plus, she would always reveal the end of a movie.
MJ's sweetness didn't overshadow his roughness. He approved of hugs, but kisses were out. Monster games, hide and seek, tag, swings at the playground and games that involved running after him. He mostly loved cuddling and watching a movie. He had a contagious smile.
Willow was a warrior from birth, born with a Congenital Heart Defect and undergoing a heart transplant at 6 days old. Her second home for the first year was CHOP, where she became an expert at putting on EKG stickers and other medical procedures. Yet, she loved life and was the happiest child ever. She was funny, loved Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, dancing, taking walks, pulling all the tissues out of a box, opening the refrigerator every few minutes and opening the pantry.
Missing them the most are their Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Liana, MJ and Willow's Life Celebration at John F. Givnish of Academy Road, 10975 Academy Rd., Phila, PA 19154 on Thursday from 6:00-9:00pm and at Our Lady of Calvary Church, 11024 Knights Rd., Phila, PA 19154 on Friday from 10:00-11:00am followed by their Memorial Mass at 11:00am. Int. Our Lady of Grace Cem.
In lieu of flowers, honor the children with a donation to Gift of Life Family House or Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiac Center.
--------------------------------------------------
"Authorities in Berks County, Pa., said Sunday a family of five died in an apparent murder-suicide a year after newspapers nationwide wrote about their struggle to obtain a drug to prevent their 1-year-old daughter from rejecting her transplanted heart.
District Attorney John Adams said the bodies of Mark Short, 40; his wife, Megan, 33; and their children Liana, 8, Mark, 5, and Willow, 2, were found Saturday by police in their home in Sinking Spring, Pa.
Adams said a handwritten note that "appeared to be a 'murder-suicide' note" was found in the family's home Saturday afternoon. Police said they found all five dead of gunshot wounds and a handgun near one of the adults, but they didn't say which one they believe was the shooter.
Police said they learned from a family member that Megan Short missed a lunch date and could not be contacted by phone. The family member contacted the police, who said the couple had "domestic issues" in the past.
The family was featured in an October 2014 story in the Reading (Pa.) Eagle, detailing how Willow, then 5 months old, had undergone a heart transplant at 1 week old. In July 2015, The New York Times published a feature story on the family detailing the family's struggles obtaining anti-rejection medication for Willow.
Last April, Megan Short blogged about her struggles with her child's condition, writing of anxiety and nightmares, saying, it took her “nearly two years to recognize how much I was truly impacted by the experiences.”
Short added, “I don’t think PTSD ever truly goes away but, with therapy, medication, and the right support, I have begun to loosen its grip on me.”
She also said she experienced "survivor's guilt" when children with similar problems from other families passed away.
"As I work on my own mental healing, I wanted to share my experience so that other heart parents know they are not alone.""
Greg Toppo, USATODAY 6:24 p.m. EDT August 7, 2016
--------------------------------------------------
Megan Short was all set to leave her husband and move with her three children into a new home on August 6.
She had leased a residence in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and relatives were waiting there for her that day. All that remained to be done was for her estranged husband, Mark Short, to rent a moving van and help her move belongings from their Sinking Spring home.
But Megan Short and her children never made it there.
Mark Short killed his 33-year-old wife and the couple's three children, 8-year-old Liana, 5-year-old Mark Jr., and 2-year-old Willow, before turning the gun on himself, Berks County District Attorney John Adams said at a news conference Monday. Willow survived a heart transplant at 6 days old, and her story made national headlines.
The couple had "domestic and marital problems," some of which led to police calls, Adams said. But none of them resulted in charges or arrests, and Megan Short declined to obtain protective order against her husband, Adams said.
"This was a very, very unfortunate incident," he said.
An investigation revealed a timeline of troubling signs.
In June, security in a Philadelphia hotel was called to respond to a domestic dispute in a room the Shorts were staying in, Adams said. He did not specify whether any charges resulted from the encounter.
On July 18, Sinking Spring police officers responded to a domestic dispute at the Short home. No physical injuries were found and no charges were filed.
The responding officers told Short how to get a protection from abuse order order, "but she chose not to," Adams said.
Mark Short purchased the .38-caliber five-shot revolver handgun and a stock of ammunition from a licensed gun dealership on July 15. Ten days later, Megan Short leased the Yardley home and began making plans to leave.
Mark Short was "demoted" at his job on August 1, Adams said. Four days later, the day before he killed them, he took his three children to Hershey Park, an amusement area, Adams said.
Megan Short's mother called Sinking Spring police after her daughter did not show up on August 6.
Police found their bodies and the family dog in the family's Sinking Spring home, dead from gunshot wounds, Adams said. Mark Short left a note admitting to buying the gun and killing his family, likely written after he killed his family, Adams said.
"I don't know that anything that can be learned, other than that leaving an abusive relationship is often a very dangerous time for a victim, so we urge anyone who's in a similar situation to get a safety plan and contact a local domestic violence agency for assistance," the prosecutor said.
By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
Updated 9:24 PM ET, Mon August 15, 2016
Mischievous children they were.
Liana was an avid reader, currently enjoying the original version of "Alice in Wonderland." She was witty, sassy, loved school, art, dressing up, parties, Barbies, princesses, and playing tricks on her family. Plus, she would always reveal the end of a movie.
MJ's sweetness didn't overshadow his roughness. He approved of hugs, but kisses were out. Monster games, hide and seek, tag, swings at the playground and games that involved running after him. He mostly loved cuddling and watching a movie. He had a contagious smile.
Willow was a warrior from birth, born with a Congenital Heart Defect and undergoing a heart transplant at 6 days old. Her second home for the first year was CHOP, where she became an expert at putting on EKG stickers and other medical procedures. Yet, she loved life and was the happiest child ever. She was funny, loved Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, dancing, taking walks, pulling all the tissues out of a box, opening the refrigerator every few minutes and opening the pantry.
Missing them the most are their Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Liana, MJ and Willow's Life Celebration at John F. Givnish of Academy Road, 10975 Academy Rd., Phila, PA 19154 on Thursday from 6:00-9:00pm and at Our Lady of Calvary Church, 11024 Knights Rd., Phila, PA 19154 on Friday from 10:00-11:00am followed by their Memorial Mass at 11:00am. Int. Our Lady of Grace Cem.
In lieu of flowers, honor the children with a donation to Gift of Life Family House or Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiac Center.
--------------------------------------------------
"Authorities in Berks County, Pa., said Sunday a family of five died in an apparent murder-suicide a year after newspapers nationwide wrote about their struggle to obtain a drug to prevent their 1-year-old daughter from rejecting her transplanted heart.
District Attorney John Adams said the bodies of Mark Short, 40; his wife, Megan, 33; and their children Liana, 8, Mark, 5, and Willow, 2, were found Saturday by police in their home in Sinking Spring, Pa.
Adams said a handwritten note that "appeared to be a 'murder-suicide' note" was found in the family's home Saturday afternoon. Police said they found all five dead of gunshot wounds and a handgun near one of the adults, but they didn't say which one they believe was the shooter.
Police said they learned from a family member that Megan Short missed a lunch date and could not be contacted by phone. The family member contacted the police, who said the couple had "domestic issues" in the past.
The family was featured in an October 2014 story in the Reading (Pa.) Eagle, detailing how Willow, then 5 months old, had undergone a heart transplant at 1 week old. In July 2015, The New York Times published a feature story on the family detailing the family's struggles obtaining anti-rejection medication for Willow.
Last April, Megan Short blogged about her struggles with her child's condition, writing of anxiety and nightmares, saying, it took her “nearly two years to recognize how much I was truly impacted by the experiences.”
Short added, “I don’t think PTSD ever truly goes away but, with therapy, medication, and the right support, I have begun to loosen its grip on me.”
She also said she experienced "survivor's guilt" when children with similar problems from other families passed away.
"As I work on my own mental healing, I wanted to share my experience so that other heart parents know they are not alone.""
Greg Toppo, USATODAY 6:24 p.m. EDT August 7, 2016
--------------------------------------------------
Megan Short was all set to leave her husband and move with her three children into a new home on August 6.
She had leased a residence in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and relatives were waiting there for her that day. All that remained to be done was for her estranged husband, Mark Short, to rent a moving van and help her move belongings from their Sinking Spring home.
But Megan Short and her children never made it there.
Mark Short killed his 33-year-old wife and the couple's three children, 8-year-old Liana, 5-year-old Mark Jr., and 2-year-old Willow, before turning the gun on himself, Berks County District Attorney John Adams said at a news conference Monday. Willow survived a heart transplant at 6 days old, and her story made national headlines.
The couple had "domestic and marital problems," some of which led to police calls, Adams said. But none of them resulted in charges or arrests, and Megan Short declined to obtain protective order against her husband, Adams said.
"This was a very, very unfortunate incident," he said.
An investigation revealed a timeline of troubling signs.
In June, security in a Philadelphia hotel was called to respond to a domestic dispute in a room the Shorts were staying in, Adams said. He did not specify whether any charges resulted from the encounter.
On July 18, Sinking Spring police officers responded to a domestic dispute at the Short home. No physical injuries were found and no charges were filed.
The responding officers told Short how to get a protection from abuse order order, "but she chose not to," Adams said.
Mark Short purchased the .38-caliber five-shot revolver handgun and a stock of ammunition from a licensed gun dealership on July 15. Ten days later, Megan Short leased the Yardley home and began making plans to leave.
Mark Short was "demoted" at his job on August 1, Adams said. Four days later, the day before he killed them, he took his three children to Hershey Park, an amusement area, Adams said.
Megan Short's mother called Sinking Spring police after her daughter did not show up on August 6.
Police found their bodies and the family dog in the family's Sinking Spring home, dead from gunshot wounds, Adams said. Mark Short left a note admitting to buying the gun and killing his family, likely written after he killed his family, Adams said.
"I don't know that anything that can be learned, other than that leaving an abusive relationship is often a very dangerous time for a victim, so we urge anyone who's in a similar situation to get a safety plan and contact a local domestic violence agency for assistance," the prosecutor said.
By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
Updated 9:24 PM ET, Mon August 15, 2016
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