A Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment against a Parma man who is accused of fatally stabbing his 22-month-old son last month, Prosecutor Michael O'Malley announced Thursday.
Jason Shorter, 41, entered the Parma Police Department back on May 12 with self-inflicted cuts to his wrists. Shorter told police he wanted to turn himself in for attempted murder, and officers later found his son Nicholas in the trunk of his car. The boy later died at a local hospital.
Shorter, who recovered from his own injuries, appeared in Parma Municipal Court just four days after the incident. Bond was set at $1 million, and his case was bound over to the county prosecutor's office.
“This individual viciously took the life of his son, apparently to spite the child’s mother,” Prosecutor O’Malley said. “We are reviewing the case for capital murder specifications.”
Shorter is charged with three counts of aggravated murder, and one count each of kidnapping, murder, felonious assault, and endangering children. Should the county prosecutor seek capital charges, Shorter could face the death penalty.