Police: Suspect in death of 83-year-old woman shoplifted after stabbing

The suspect in the death of 83-year-old Peggy Gamble shoplifted from the Family Dollar on Buena Vista Road the afternoon following the fatal stabbing, according to testimony Thursday morning in Columbus Recorders’ Court.

Angelo Short pleaded not guilty no contest to theft by shoplifting. He was ordered to spend 30 days in the Muscogee County Jail or pay a $250 bond.

The case was bound over to State Court.

On Nov. 29, Columbus police officer Joshua McQuien was called to the Family Dollar at 2126 Buena Vista Road. He said he spoke to a manager who reported that a black man wearing blue jeans and blue t-shirt stole three packs of shirts worth nearly $30 from the store around 1:30 p.m. that day.

McQuien said he reviewed video footage of the suspect and he matched the description of the Short, who alledgely snatched cigarettes from the Piggly Wiggly early that day at 7:30 a.m.

Thursday morning was the third time within the last week that Short has appeared in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

On Dec. 1, Short pleaded not guilty to taking Gamble’s beige 1988 Toyota Corolla from her home following her death and obstructing police during his arrest. He also pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault and robbery charges from the Piggly Wiggly incident on 910 Brown Ave.

Six days later, he pleaded guilty to the murder of Gamble, who was found stabbed seven times Nov. 28 in her 2324 8th St. home.

Police listed Short as a person of interest in the murder suspect in the early stages of the homicide case, 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.

This story was originally published December 8, 2016 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Police: Suspect in death of 83-year-old woman shoplifted after stabbing."