She Had Rebuilt Her Life – What Happened Inside a West Phoenix Apartment

Shanna Cassondra Watts had reached a point in life that once seemed distant. After years of working toward sobriety, she had stable housing, steady employment, and close relationships with family and neighbors. Those who knew her said she was proud of the progress she had made and focused on maintaining it. That stability ended June 26, when Phoenix police say Watts was killed in an apparent murder-suicide inside her west Phoenix apartment.

Watts, 40, was found dead in the one-bedroom apartment she shared with her longtime boyfriend, Ronald Wright Serafino. Police said Serafino fatally shot Watts before taking his own life. The case remains under investigation, though authorities have described it as an apparent homicide-suicide.

Stability

The apartment near 99th Avenue and Camelback Road was modest, but family members said it represented independence and security for Watts. She had lived there with two mixed-breed dogs and had recently settled into a routine that included work, caring for animals, and staying connected with relatives.

According to her brother, Cody Watts, she had achieved sobriety after roughly 15 years of effort. He said she took pride in everyday accomplishments, including furnishing her home and cooking meals. A Crock-Pot he recently gave her became a symbol of that progress, representing comfort and normalcy rather than excess.

Motherhood

Watts was the mother of two daughters, now 17 and 20, from a previous relationship. Due to her substance abuse earlier in life, the girls were adopted by their maternal grandmother. Cody Watts said his sister remained present in their lives and worked to rebuild trust over time.

He said the daughters viewed their mother as resilient and determined, noting that she consistently tried to improve herself. Her death, he said, has left them grieving the loss of future milestones and everyday moments they expected to share with her.

Relationship

Ronald Wright Serafino had been part of Watts’ life for about 15 years. The two met while in recovery, and family members said they supported each other’s efforts to remain sober. Serafino lived with Watts in the west Phoenix apartment.

Cody Watts said he never observed signs of domestic violence in the relationship. He described the shooting as unexpected and difficult to reconcile with his understanding of their life together. He said Watts’ daughters had viewed Serafino as a father figure, making the circumstances of her death particularly painful for them.

Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said July 2 that there were no updates to the investigation.

Community

Following Watts’ death, neighbors and friends gathered for a vigil at the apartment complex. During those conversations, Cody Watts learned more about his sister’s daily interactions with those around her.

Neighbors described Watts as friendly and attentive. She brought food to apartment office staff and routinely checked on people living nearby. She also fostered animals and made efforts to feed stray cats in the complex. When Cody Watts arrived at the apartment during the police investigation, he said several cats approached the door as it opened.

Family members said Watts regularly helped relatives as well. She mowed her grandmother’s lawn and cooked meals for her mother and stepfather, often without being asked.

Influence

Cody Watts, a retired parole officer, said his sister’s recovery influenced his professional life. He often shared her story with people working to overcome addiction after incarceration, using her progress as an example that long-term change was possible.

He said her recovery was not immediate or simple, but sustained through persistence and support. Those who knew her said she approached that process quietly and consistently.

Remembrance

The family plans to donate Watts’ belongings and use proceeds from the sale of some items to support no-kill animal shelters and sober-living facilities for women. Cody Watts said those choices reflect his sister’s priorities and values.

Among the items to be donated is the Crock-Pot she had been excited to receive. He said the family hopes it will be useful to someone else in need, continuing her pattern of helping others in small, practical ways.

Watts is remembered by her family as someone who worked steadily to improve her life and support those around her. Her death has left lasting impacts on her children, relatives, and community.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of self-harm or emotional distress, help is available. In Arizona, support resources include 211 Arizona, Solari Crisis and Human Services at 844-534-4673, and the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

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