Report: Pa. mom was to leave husband on day family found dead
SINKING SPRING, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania woman found dead alongside her husband and three children in an apparent murder-suicide had told friends on social media that she planned to leave him.
The Reading Eagle reports that Megan Short alleged abuse and posted on Facebook that she needed help moving out of the family's home in Sinking Spring home Saturday, the day authorities discovered the family shot dead. A neighbor, Angie Burke, told the newspaper she saw the post about a week ago.
Police found Megan Short, Mark Short Sr. and their children - Lianna, Mark Jr., and Willow - dead in the living room. News articles had previously featured the family after 2-year-old Willow survived a heart transplant after birth.
The district attorney's office says the couple had been having "domestic issues" but didn't identify the suspected shooter.
A gun was reportedly found near one of the adults, but investigators didn't specify which one, the paper reports. Police also said they found a handwritten "murder/suicide" note.
Burke provided screengrabs of the July 23 online conversation to the paper, in which Megan Short commented on an article Burke posted by author Leigh Stein entitled, "He didn't hit me. It was still abuse."
Megan Short reportedly said online, "It really does a number on your mental health for sure," and "This is why I am leaving my marriage Angie. 16 years."
Megan Short posted regularly on social media about her youngest daughter's health struggles following the heart transplant surgery, according to CBS Philadelphia. In a May 25 post, Short wrote the young girl didn't cry during a recent blood draw and called her a "pro at this now."
"I have been super emotional over everything the past couple days. Just when I get used to her getting a little bit of normal childhood, I am reminded of all that she has to endure throughout her life," Megan Short wrote. "I have wondered if she would grow up to resent the fact that we chose this for her. Thankfully, she is a happy, happy girl who truly loves life. It's like she just knows life is precious. I am not looking forward to the day that she starts asking questions about it all and realizes she is different. Soaking in every single minute of her joy."