iradiophilly | News - Berks County Father Responsible for Murder-Suicide; Jury Deliberates in Kane Trial; 4 Heat Deaths

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Berks County Father Responsible for Murder-Suicide; Jury Deliberates in Kane Trial; 4 Heat Deaths

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 08/15/16 8:23 pm | updated: 08/15/16 8:23 pm

Berks County authorities said today that the father was responsible for the murder-suicide that also left his wife and three children dead. 40-year-old Mark Short Sr. wrote a suicide note and also admitted to buying the gun and shooting his wife, 33-year-old Megan, and children, 8-year-old Lianna, 5-year-old Mark Jr. and 2-year-old Willow. He also shot the family dog. According to the medical examiner, Short died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The couple was having relationship troubles and Megan planned to leave the home the next day. The couple had several brushes with authorities for domestic incidents in the past few months. Authorities say that Mark took the children to Hershey Park the day before. Megan's mother called police on August 6th when she failed to show for a lunch date. They discovered the family in their home in Sinking Spring, PA near Reading. A funeral mass was held for the wife and children last Friday.

The trial against Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane went to the jury for deliberations this afternoon. Kane is accused of leaking secret grand jury information to the press and then lying about it in front of another grand jury. The court heard closing arguments from both the defense and prosecution this morning. The defense, who did not call any witnesses or present any evidence at trial, blamed the leak on two of Kane's former top aides who testified for the prosecution. Defense attorney Seth Farber said they would, "say whatever they need to in order to protect themselves" and "You would not even buy a used car from either one of them." Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele mapped out the prosecution's case and tied texts, phone records, and e-mails that were presented as evidence to key dates. He pointed out that the witnesses who testified against her were those she chose as her closest confidantes. If convicted she faces up to 7 years in prison on the felony perjury charge. She will be allowed to remain in office during an appeal.

UPDATE: The jury of 6 men and 6 women returned a guilty verdict on all nine counts.

The current heat wave in Philadelphia has claimed 4 lives. According to authorities, the latest heat related death is a 72-year-old man from West Philadelphia. On Sunday, a 59-year-old man succumbed to heat. He also suffered from diabetes and congestive heart failure. On Saturday, the medical examiner ruled that heat was a factor in the deaths of a 67-year-old woman in Brewerytown and an 82-year-old in Port Richmond. There have been four other heat related deaths this year. The Excessive Heat Warning continues until 8 pm on Tuesday. The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is extending its Heatline through Tuesday Aug. 16. Call 215-765-9040.

Tonight,
Partly Cloudy, temperatures in the low 90's/upper 80's this evening in Center City

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