Karen Ann Rooney, a 63-year-old woman from Maysville, NC, tragically lost her life on August 28, 2010. Karen, who was born on June 10, 1947, in Brooklyn, NY, was a retired IBM employee who had dedicated over 30 years to the company. She was known for her love of the beach, particularly Bear Island Beach, and enjoyed gardening and crafting in her free time. Karen was survived by her son, Thomas Kemp Russell, her daughter, Christy Ann Russell, her parents, Thomas and Ethel Rooney, her sister, Katherine Rooney-Keto, and her fiancé, Bill Jenkins.
The circumstances surrounding Karen's death were deeply tragic. On the night of August 28, 2010, Karen was found shot multiple times in her home by a neighbor. The investigation revealed that Karen had been killed by her ex-boyfriend, Peter Terrance Moonan, who was 62 years old at the time. Moonan, who had dated Karen for 16 years before their breakup earlier that year, was reportedly enraged by Karen's recent engagement to another man, which she had announced on her Facebook page.
According to the Onslow County Sheriff's Office, Moonan's jealousy and inability to cope with Karen's engagement led him to commit the murder-suicide. After shooting Karen, Moonan turned the gun on himself, ending his own life. The investigation concluded that Moonan's actions were driven by his emotional turmoil and jealousy over Karen's new relationship.
Karen's death was a devastating loss for her family and friends, who remembered her as a loving and caring individual. Her memorial service was held on September 5, 2010, at Hammocks Beach State Park, where Reverend Joel Kettner officiated the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial donations be made to the North Carolina Coastal Federation.
