Body of WCU professor discovered in Ohio park

WEST CHESTER >> West Chester University professor Dr. Tom Short Jr., who never showed for a family Thanksgiving dinner, was found dead in Lyndhurst, Ohio.

Short was missing since three days before Thanksgiving and his body was discovered in a park on Dec. 2. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner did not identify the body until Tuesday. No cause of death was given.

Short’s snow-covered Honda HRV was discovered, four miles from where his car was parked,

in a hotel parking lot. A hotel clerk told police that Short had checked in, but he never showed.

A suitcase, backpack, phone and receipt from Nov. 18 were discovered by police.

An Orange Village Police report reads that the last known person to speak with Short was a colleague.

She said Short was “very despondent and depressed,” according to the Orange Village police report.

His family set up a wildly successful GoFundMe account that raised $24,000 toward a $25,000 goal in 13 days. Three hundred thirtynine people donated to the account that is no longer accepting donations.

The donations were destined to pay a local Ohio private detective to search for Short. The private eye comes well recommended, said local lawyers. Any excess funds will be donated to a missing person’s fund or used to set up a scholarship in the prof’s name.

Short has been a professor of statistics at West Chester University for the past two years. Prior to that he was a professor of statistics and computer science at John Carroll University.

Executive Vice President and Provost R. Lorraine Bernotsky released the following statement: “Our hearts are heavy with the tragic news of the death of Dr. Tom Short, associate professor of mathematics. Dr. Short’s untimely passing is a great loss for our community. We extend condolences and support to his family, friends, colleagues, and many students during this very difficult time.”

Tom Short