A 17-year-old high school senior’s life was tragically ended on November 7 in Blacksburg, Virginia, just two days shy of her 18th birthday, in an event that appears to be a murder-suicide.

Serenity Hawley, a student eagerly anticipating her future at Virginia Tech University, became a victim in the incident. Her ex-boyfriend, Croney Monk, is suspected to be the one responsible. The scene of the tragedy was a local parking garage, where both teenagers were found dead in Hawley’s car. Hawley had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.

The Blacksburg Police Department, while investigating, found both bodies and a weapon in the vehicle. Initially, they refrained from immediately declaring the case a murder-suicide, showing prudence in their ongoing investigation.

This devastating event seems to be the climax of a troubled relationship between Hawley and Monk. About a month before this incident, Hawley had pursued a no-contact order against Monk at her high school, citing his harassment and blackmail attempts.

Reflecting on this tragedy, Serenity’s mother, Heather Waldron, expressed her belief that this could have been avoided, pointing to several overlooked signs of Monk’s concerning behavior. Serenity’s father, John Hawley, spoke of his daughter as a bright and exceptional young woman, whose absence has created a profound emptiness in their family. Her mother also remembered Serenity as a lively and impactful individual.

In the face of the unspeakable loss, the overwhelming support from the Blacksburg community has provided some comfort to the grieving family.