Serena Chelsea "Serenity" McKay (September 30, 1997 – April 22 or 23, 2017) was an Indigenous woman from Manitoba, Canada, whose murder was video recorded and posted on social media—being streamed on Facebook Live, in particular.
According to CBC News, two videos of the crime circulated, with the longer version sitting on Facebook for four hours on April 26 before it was removed from the site after it was reported.
[6] McKay grew up in Winnipeg, and had spent time in Manitoba's Pine Creek, Peguis, and George Gordon First Nations.
Though living in the neighbouring community of Pine Creek First Nation, she attended Sagkeeng Anicinabe High School, where she was in the 12th grade at the time of her death.
[8] The killing was filmed and posted on social media; the graphic material circulated in both a short and long version on Facebook.
[8] The video depicts a bloodied, barely-conscious young woman lying on the ground, as she is repeatedly kicked and punched in the head.
[8] In addition to the victim's blood and facial injuries, the longer video also shows her head being stomped on by a heavy boot, as well as the sound of bones cracking, during the assault.
"[9] According to a supposed instant-message exchange between one of the alleged suspects to a resident of Sagkeeng, she broke the nose of the victim, who subsequently left but was nonetheless "OK" and "up and walking."
[8][12] A pathologist testified during their trial that McKay likely died of hypothermia, unable to seek protection from the cold because of her injuries and the amount of alcohol in her system.
[17][18][19] In January 2018, the younger of the two suspects, 17 years old at this time, was subject to sentencing hearings at Winnipeg youth court, where she pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Also that year, she was denied a request for an early release so that she could return to her First Nation community and take steps to enrol at the University of Manitoba.
[28] From there, the Bear Clan Patrol led the group down Waterfront Drive to Oodena Circle at The Forks, where the vigil would wrap up with drumming and donated tobacco and refreshments.
[2] In February 2018, about 20 people including McKay's family and friends gathered in front of the Manitoba Legislative Building to protest the perpetrators' reduced sentences.