On June 23, 2022, Harper Monroe, a 6-year-old girl from Dayton, Ohio, was tragically found dead in her home on Burleigh Avenue. Harper's mother, 31-year-old Aisha Nelson, was also found dead in the basement of the house. Both victims had been shot. The incident occurred after a domestic dispute and multiple calls to the police regarding threats from Harper's mother's boyfriend, Waverly Hawes, who also lived in the home.
Waverly Hawes, also known as Dante, was identified as the suspect.
He was found dead in Alabama from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on the same day. The police believe that Hawes killed Harper and Aisha before taking his own life. The family of the victims has criticized the Dayton Police Department for their handling of the situation, claiming that the officers did not take adequate action during their response to the domestic violence calls.
In response to the incident, two Dayton police officers, Terrell Moore and Kathryn Santos, were suspended for 160 hours and received written reprimands. The officers were suspended after an investigation revealed that they did not file a report following their response to the domestic dispute call. The family of Harper Monroe and Aisha Nelson has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Dayton Police Department, Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, and the City of Dayton, alleging negligence and failure to protect.
The case has drawn significant attention and criticism, with the family demanding answers and accountability from the police department. The Professional Standards Bureau of the Dayton Police Department is conducting an administrative investigation into the officers' response to the call. The findings of the investigation are currently under review and are expected to be made public soon.
The tragic deaths of Harper Monroe and Aisha Nelson have left a lasting impact on their family and the community, with many calling for changes in how domestic violence calls are handled to prevent similar incidents in the future.
