A 17-year-old high school senior was killed on November 7, in what appears to be a murder-suicide just two days before her 18th birthday.
Serenity Hawley’s ex-boyfriend, Croney Monk, is believed to have been the perpetrator of the act. The incident happened in a local parking garage, where the two teenagers were found dead in Hawley’s car. Hawley had been shot in the chest.
According to reports, Hawley had recently been accepted to Virginia Tech University and was looking forward to celebrating her 18th birthday. Her untimely death has left her family and friends in deep mourning. The Blacksburg Police Department, upon discovering the bodies along with a weapon inside the vehicle, did not immediately characterize the case as a murder-suicide, maintaining a cautious approach to the ongoing investigation.
The details surrounding the incident suggest a history of tension between Hawley and Monk. Roughly a month prior to the incident, Hawley had sought a no-contact order against Monk through her high school, citing allegations of harassment and blackmail. This move signaled the troubled dynamics in their relationship.
Reflecting on the situation, Serenity’s mother, Heather Waldron, expressed a belief that the tragedy could have been prevented, pointing to missed opportunities in addressing Monk’s past behavior.
John Hawley, Serenity’s father, described his daughter as a vibrant and exemplary child whose absence has left an indelible void in their family. Her mother echoed the sentiments, portraying Serenity as vibrant and larger than life.
The overwhelming support from the Blacksburg community in the wake of this tragedy has been a source of some solace to the bereaved family, who are coping with an unimaginable loss.
