On November 7, a 17-year-old high school senior’s life was cut short in Blacksburg, Virginia, in a shocking incident just days before her 18th birthday, believed to be a murder-suicide.
Serenity Hawley, who had her sights set on attending Virginia Tech University, fell victim to the appalling event. The suspected perpetrator is her ex-boyfriend, Croney Monk. The bodies of the two teenagers were discovered in Hawley’s car, located in a local parking garage. Hawley suffered a fatal chest wound from a gunshot.
Upon their arrival at the scene, the Blacksburg Police Department found the deceased along with a firearm inside the vehicle. They approached the case with caution, not rushing to classify it as a murder-suicide amidst their investigation.
The circumstances leading up to this tragedy indicate longstanding issues between Hawley and Monk. Hawley had previously sought protection against Monk, requesting a no-contact order through her high school due to his alleged harassment and blackmail.
Heather Waldron, Serenity’s mother, said that the incident might have been preventable, highlighting the missed signs of Monk’s problematic behavior. John Hawley, Serenity’s father, remembered his daughter as an extraordinary and vibrant young woman, whose loss has deeply impacted their family. Serenity’s mother also described her as a bright, life-embracing individual.
