Man accused of killing woman, her unborn child heading to trial

A McKeesport man accused of killing a woman and her unborn child will be heading to trial.

After two hours of testimony, the case against Isaac Smith is moving forward.

Smith is accused of shooting and killing the mother of his child, Karli Short, in September 2021. Karli was also 17 weeks pregnant with Smith’s child when she was killed.

Karli is the daughter of former Penn State and NFL football player Brandon Short. He was almost in tears talking about his daughter.

“One of the most difficult experiences of my life. I pray hard how to manage and handle it,” Brandon said.

According to witness testimony, Karli invited Smith over to her home in McKeesport the night she was killed.

Prosecutors showed surveillance video of the last moments of her life, as she walked outside on her back porch.

“She was such an amazing human being. All she wanted to do was make others happy. She was in the prime of her life, and was so happy about being a mother,” Brandon said.

Karli’s uncle testified that he heard one gunshot. The next morning, detectives found her body and realized she was shot in the head.

A county detective testified that the bullet found in Karli’s head matched a gun that Smith pawned days after she was killed.

Prosecutors argued that Smith was trying to hide his relationship with Karli, and her pregnancy, from two other women he was involved with.

“The father of her child took her life because he didn’t want to have a baby. It’s the most cowardly thing,” Brandon said.

Smith’s attorney argued that there wasn’t a motive for his client to kill Karli.

Ultimately, the judge found that the Commonwealth had met their burden for the case to move forward.

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