In the early morning hours of Monday, September 23, 2024, the quiet of a Roanoke County neighborhood was broken by a call for emergency services. What first responders discovered at the residence in the 4800 block of Pitzer Road was a tragic scene. Inside, they found the bodies of two individuals, later identified as 58-year-old Robert Michael Jackson and 42-year-old Amanda Rae Robertson, both residents of Roanoke County.
It was quickly apparent that their deaths were not from natural causes.
The investigation into the deaths of Jackson and Robertson soon revealed they were the victims of a double homicide, with both individuals having sustained fatal gunshot wounds. As the Roanoke County Police delved into the case, their attention rapidly focused on a person of interest. Investigators identified 57-year-old Wayne Hubert Shortt, Jr., of Franklin County, as a possible suspect in the slayings. It is believed that Shortt had been in a previous relationship with Amanda Robertson.
With a suspect identified, law enforcement from Roanoke County reached out to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for assistance in executing a search warrant at a residence in the 4800 block of Hardy Road. Upon making entry into the home, authorities found Wayne Hubert Shortt, Jr. deceased. The preliminary belief of investigators is that Shortt died by suicide. Law enforcement officials believe that Shortt was the sole person responsible for the deaths of Robert Michael Jackson and Amanda Rae Robertson and have indicated that drugs and alcohol may have been contributing factors in the tragic events. The investigation remains active pending final reports from the Medical Examiner's Office.
