WATCH ABOVE: Chelsea Serpentini-Harty was killed in her Pineridge home on Tuesday. Her boyfriend has been charged with first degree murder in connection with her death. As Tracy Nagai reports, friends say they saw warning signs leading up to her death but there was nothing they could do.
CALGARY – Plans for a vigil are underway for a young woman murdered this week.
Chelsea Serpentini-Harty was killed in her Pineridge home on Tuesday, her boyfriend is charged with the crime.
Friends say they saw warning signs leading up to her death but there was nothing they could do.
Officers were called to a home in the 400 block of Pinehill Road N.E. at around 5:45 p.m. When they arrived, investigators discovered her dead inside.
Flowers and stuffed animals filled the steps of the home.
The basement suite was the scene of the brutal murder.
Close family friends, like Cheryl Anne Holtz, describe Chelsea as a loving, confident young woman with dreams, which makes her death all the more puzzling to those close to her.
“She had an inner truth about herself, she told you the truth about yourself whether you wanted to hear it or not and she had a kindness and compassion from people that you don’t see anymore,” Holtz said.
24-year-old Chelsea Serpentini-Harty was found dead just before 6 p.m. Tuesday night.
Her boyfriend, 26-year-old Jonathan Martin has been charged with first degree murder.
Police say alcohol may have been a factor.
They had been living together for about a month.
Neighbours said they had seen police at the couple’s duplex several times before, but police clarified on Thursday their presence was not because of Martin and Serpentini-Harty.
Those close to Chelsea say they saw troubling signs leading up to her death.
“She wasn’t her bubbly self, she wasn’t Chelsea,” said Cassandra Lassey, a long time friend. “She said no, everything’s fine Cass, and I begged her to tell me, and she just wouldn’t tell me anything and then we found out this news. She was actually supposed to travel to mexico for a wedding here in the next few months. She was saving up for that. It was her first trip out of the country, so she was excited.”
Chelsea worked at a Tim Horton’s in southeast Calgary. The owner has donated $5,000 to the Calgary women’s shelter in her memory.
Domestic abuse experts say sadly, Chelsea’s story is not unique, with Calgary Police responding to more than 18,000 domestic related calls each year.
“It just points to the fact that domestic violence can happen to anyone,” said Brigitte Baradoy from Discovery house Family Violence Prevention Society. “I think there’s a real role for men to step up to the plate and say to other men that this kind of treatment and this kind of behavior is not okay.”
A vigil will be held Sunday evening at 8 p.m. down the street from Chelsea’s work at Elliston Park.
Funds are now being raised to help pay for her memorial.
Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or contact Crime Stoppers.
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