Wilson School District offers counseling to students, families after deaths of family

by Steve Reinbrecht

Counselors will be available Monday, Aug. 8, if people want to talk about the deaths of the members of the Short family in Sinking Spring.

Wilson School District counselors will be available at Green Valley Elementary School starting at 9 a.m.

County detectives continued Sunday to investigate the deaths of the five family members. Police found their bodies Saturday in their home at 51 Winding Brook Drive.

The father was Mark Jason Short Sr., 40. The mother was Megan L. Short, 33. The children were Liana G. Short, 8; Mark J. Short, 5; and Willow R. Short, 2.

A relative became concerned when Megan did not show up to a lunch date Saturday and asked police to check the house. Police forced their way in and found the bodies and a dead dog in the living room. All had been shot. A gun was found near one of the adults – the news release from the district attorney's office doesn’t say near whom.

Investigators found a murder-suicide note.

“This is an apparent tragic domestic incident,” the news release states.

Here is the text of a message from Wilson School District Superintendent Curt Baker, posted Sunday:

“It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of the children killed in yesterday's tragedy in Sinking Spring was Liana Short, a rising third grader at Green Valley Elementary.

“Any time death touches us, it is extremely stressful. This sudden death may be quite upsetting to you and your children. For this reason, we especially want you to know of our caring and support.

“If you feel that you or your children would benefit from speaking to a counselor or other caring adult, counselors will be available this afternoon at Green Valley Elementary School from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and tomorrow (Monday) starting at 9:00 a.m.

“Yesterday's events have come as a shock to all of us and I ask that you keep the Short family in your thoughts and prayers.”