Martin Short’s daughter, Katherine Short, vanished a day before she was found dead by suicide.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ Thursday that Katherine’s friend called police after she hadn’t “been heard from in 24 hours.”
The outlet further reported that Katherine was found behind a locked bedroom door with a “note” and a gun nearby.
Homicide authorities also reportedly responded to the call and ruled out foul play.
Despite disappearing for 24 hours, a neighbor of Katherine said she never showed any “indications” that she was struggling with her mental health.
“Katherine was a private person but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t friendly. She was quite outgoing,” the neighbor told Us Weekly, noting that they would “hear and see her laughing with friends” on her front porch at times.
However, Katherine also owned a service dog, Joni, to assist with “mental illness” in the years prior to her death.
Talking about her dog on her now-deleted professional website, she wrote, “Joni is my incredible service dog, who has been assisting me with my own struggles with mental illness for the past 5 years.”
On Feb. 23, Katherine was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in her Hollywood Hills, Calif. home around 6 p.m. local time. She was 42.
“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” a rep for the “Only Murders in the Building” star confirmed to Page Six Tuesday.
“The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
The social worker kept a low profile through the years and was last seen publicly when she celebrated her 40th birthday in 2023.
In fact, Katherine went to such lengths to keep her privacy that she changed her last name from Short to Hartley in 2012.
Katherine explained in documents that her “father is a public figure” and she is “a psychiatric social worker.”
“I am worried about potential harassment from future patients resulting from my association with my father,” she continued.
Martin, 75, welcomed Katherine with his late wife, Nancy Dolman, via adoption. They later adopted sons Oliver Patrick, 39, and Henry Hayter, 36, together.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
