A West Mifflin man will serve at least 13 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday to killing a woman in 2018 and leaving her body in a wooded area of Westmoreland County.

Dale Terence Cooper, 37, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder before Judge Beth A. Lazzara in the death of Heather Short, 46, in exchange of a sentence of 13 to 30 years in prison.

A witness led investigators to Short’s skeletal remains on Jan. 23, 2019.

According to investigators, Cooper feared that Short was going to tip off a drug dealer that he had stolen $700 and an ounce of crack cocaine from him.

Police said Cooper told a witness he strangled Short with an extension cord, doused her in bleach and wrapped her in plastic. He then left her body in a wooded area off Scott Haven Road in Sewickley Township.

Police said they found Short’s purse, driver’s license and bank card when they searched Cooper’s home.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)