Missing West Chester Professor Found Dead

WEST CHESTER, PA — Tom Short, the West Chester University professor who never showed up for Thanksgiving dinner, has been found dead, school officials said in an email to the school community Tuesday.

The statistics professor had not been seen since Nov. 18. His body was found at the Acacia Reservation in Lyndhurst, Ohio, by Cleveland Metroparks rangers, according to Fox8 in Ohio.

The body was reportedly found on Dec. 2 but was not identified as Short by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner until Tuesday.

A cause of death remains unknown, as do further circumstances surrounding his disapperance.

"Our hearts are heavy with the tragic news of the death of Dr. Tom Short, associate professor of mathematics,"R. Lorraine Bernotsky, executive vice president and provost at West Chester, wrote in the email. "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."

He had traveled to Ohio to have Thanksgiving with his family, but did not show up to dinner at their Beachwood home on Nov. 22, spurring a search.

Short had not reached out to his family since going missing. According to his family, Short's vehicle was found parked at the hotel where he was staying in Orange Village, Ohio. Inside his vehicle were his suitcase and phone. But he never picked up a key at his room.

The Acacia Reservation is about four miles away from Beachwood and Orange, just outside Cleveland.

Police in Orange Village are investigating.

West Chester has made their Counseling Center available for the school community. Call (610) 436-2301.

Related:

• 10 Days Later, Search Continues For Missing West Chester U. Prof
• Private Investigator Hired To Find Missing West Chester Professor

Image via family of Tom Short