April Short: Plans insanity plea while new details reveal stab injuries her infant succumbed to

A mother who pleaded not guilty to murdering her 11-month-old infant has revealed her intention to use an insanity defense during her trial, according to a report by WJBF.

Citing court documents, WJBF also revealed the defense’s plan to call on expert witness Macy Wilson, Psy. D., a forensic psychologist who works for the Department of Justice (DOJ).

On May 6, 2024, 30-year-old April Short pleaded not guilty in response to charges of premeditated murder and felony murder, as the Post and Courier previously reported.

April was home alone with her three children on the morning of Nov. 15, 2023, on the Fort Eisenhower Army Base where she lived with her husband, James. According to the affidavit, James, a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, received alarming texts from his wife that led him to phoning the police.

The affidavit adds that in her messages, April allegedly referred to God, Jesus, and claimed that “the days of darkness are upon us.” When police arrived at the home, April allegedly tried to flee with two of the kids after locking herself in the bedroom with the children. She was detained in the process of trying to escape.

The infant boy was discovered in the home by James, who had returned home, the affidavit says. He found his child wrapped up in plastic, with wounds that were bleeding from the neck. The child later died at the hospital.