Man charged with murder in death of 83-year-old Columbus woman

Angelo Short has been charged with murder in the Nov. 28 stabbing death of Peggy Gamble, whom police identified as his 83-year-old step-grandmother, Columbus Police Maj. Gil Slouchick confirmed Monday afternoon in a news release.

Short, 42, of Phenix City remains held in the Muscogee County Jail on the one count of theft by taking motor vehicle related to the beige 1988 Toyota Corolla missing from Gamble’s home following her death, as well as on an obstruction charge stemming from his arrest. He is set to face the murder charge 8 a.m. Wednesday in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Short pleaded not guilty to the auto theft and obstruction charges Thursday morning in Columbus Recorder’s Court along with robbery and aggravated assault charges related to a Piggly Wiggly robbery he allegedly committed the morning after a relative found Gamble’s body in her 2324 Eighth St. home.

She was pronounced dead at 1:34 p.m., but Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said it appears as if she was dead for eight to 10 hours before her body was discovered.

She was stabbed seven times, according to a preliminary autopsy report.

Authorities said they found evidence on the homicide scene that someone had broken into the victim’s home, where she had been living alone since 1993. Gamble’s Toyota, which her family said was normally parked under her carport, was missing from the residence, Detective Stewart Carter said during Thursday’s hearing.

Police listed Short as a person of interest in the case early on, adding that he was Gamble’s step-grandson. The victim’s family disputed that claim during the hearing, but a family member previously said Short is the stepson of Gamble’s older daughter, Miriam Short, who is married to Short’s father, Eddie.

Carter said witnesses spotted Short driving Gamble’s Toyota with an unidentified individual in the passenger seat the night Gamble was killed. Short was also seen in the car alone when he allegedly left the missing Toyota in the area of 10th Street the night of Nov. 28, three additional witnesses told authorities.

Police said Short robbed the Piggly Wiggly on Brown Avenue early Tuesday and they received numerous tips later that day informing them that he was sleeping in abandoned houses in the area of Coolidge Avenue.

Carter said officials couldn’t find Short at the exact location they were given, but they set up a perimeter and arrested him after he was found in an abandoned apartment on Lawyers Lane.

Short told police to kill him before using a crack pipe to smoke cocaine in front of them, then he continued to tell authorities to kill him, according to Carter.

Carter also said Short had to be subdued with a stun gun before he could be taken into custody.

Funeral arrangements

The funeral service for Gamble will be held noon Wednesday at Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church at 3000 12th Ave., the victim’s family said Monday afternoon.

The burial will follow in Green Acres Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m. at Sconiers Funeral Home, 836 Fifth Ave.

Gamble was a deacon’s widow who served in the Missionary Society, Sunday School and 50 Plus senior ministry at Greater Shady Grove. Before retiring, she was a surgical technician at the former Cobb Hospital in Phenix City.

“She was a very energetic, Christian woman who loved her family and friends,” said her longtime friend, Doris Carde. “If someone needed help, she would be one of the first ones to contribute in the community. She was kind. She was loveable.”

Alva James-Johnson contributed to this report.

This story was originally published December 5, 2016 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Man charged with murder in death of 83-year-old Columbus woman."