Betty Sue Short Murder: Is Jonathan Slemp Dead or Alive? How Did ‘Jonathan Slemp’ Die? Let’s find out. Betty Short’s son, Scott Short discovered her body on October 16, 2011. She was sitting on her couch, the right side of her skull swollen from blunt force injuries. Her posture prompted detectives to believe she knew her assailant.
John Slemp was arrested on February 25, 2014, after a long investigation. Slemp was found guilty of first-degree murder and is currently serving a life sentence with no chance of release.
In October 2011, a beloved grandmother was the victim of a horrific crime. Betty Sue Short was murdered at her apartment in Kingsport, Tennessee, and it took officials until 2015 to apprehend the perpetrator.
‘Home Sweet Homicide: In Cold Blood‘ on Investigation Discovery dives into the circumstances surrounding Betty’s murder and what led to the killer’s capture. So, how about we find out more about this case?
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Betty Sue Short’s Cause of Death
Betty was born in February 1946 and was living in Kingsport, Tennessee, at the time of the accident. She was the mother of a son and a daughter. She was divorced while they were young, according to the show. Betty’s first priority was to ensure that they were properly raised. When she was killed, the 65-year-old woman had been diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy and was living with her son, Scott.
Scott arrived home on October 16, 2011, to find her mother had been battered to death. Betty’s face was covered with a sheet when the authorities came after the 911 call. She has serious blunt force damage to the right side of her skull underneath. The investigators assumed Betty knew her killer since she was seated on the couch, and there was no sign of forced entry.
Who Killed Betty Sue Short and Why?
The house was not broken into, but the thermostat was set to an unusually low temperature. Scott, according to the show, lived with his mother after being released from prison. He was, however, at his girlfriend’s house on the night Betty was killed, according to the girlfriend and her daughter. Scott also said that his bedroom had a toolbox containing three weapons.
According to additional witness testimony, Jonathan Slemp, who was close to the family and frequently visited Betty, was in her apartment on the night of October 15, 2011. When questioned, Jonathan said that he and Betty had reached an agreement. He claimed that anytime he gave her Percocets, she would return the favour by giving him Valium. Jonathan went on to say that he came there that night to do just that, but only stayed for around 15 minutes.
Jonathan was still living with his ex-wife at the time of the incident. He arrived home at 9:15 p.m., he informed the cops. A witness at the house alleged, however, that Jonathan returned after 10:30 p.m. Jonathan also displayed a gun that matched the description of one of the firearms missing from Scott’s toolbox, according to the witness.
According to additional testimony, Betty stored her medications in a plastic bag, and Jonathan had one similar when he returned home on October 15. While Jonathan’s statements were inconsistent, there was no tangible evidence linking him to the murder. The authorities then looked into Gary Layon Jones’ stabbing death in Kingsport in November 2010.
According to the show, they thought the murder was similar to Betty’s. Gary had been stabbed over 20 times, an overkill similar to Betty’s. Furthermore, a coffee table covered his torso, like a bedsheet covered Betty’s face.
Chris West, a guy in prison on drug charges, was interviewed as part of the investigation. According to the show, Chris told the cops that he knew Jonathan and wanted to assist with the investigation. As a result, he agreed to act as an informant and hang out with Jonathan. Jonathan eventually confessed to Betty’s murder, which led to his incarceration.
How Did Betty’s Killer ‘Jonathan Slemp’ Die?
Jonathan Slemp was convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and exceptionally aggravated robbery in the case of Betty in September 2015. He was condemned to life in jail with the chance of release when he was 44 years old. Jonathan pleaded guilty to killing Gary in October 2015 and received a new life sentence. He has subsequently died, according to jail records, although the cause of death has not been made public.
