Teen Says His Dad and Sister Went to Buy a PS5 on Facebook Marketplace And They Never Came Home
A Tennessee family is searching for answers after a father and daughter were found shot to death in Mississippi while reportedly heading to meet someone from Facebook Marketplace to purchase a PlayStation 5.
Victor Gonzalez and his 19-year-old daughter, Serenity Gonzalez, left their home in the Memphis area with plans to meet a seller offering the gaming console online. According to family members, it was supposed to be a quick trip, one that ended in a devastating tragedy.
Authorities later discovered the pair inside a crashed vehicle on a rural road in Panola County, Mississippi. When deputies arrived at the scene, they realized the situation was far more serious than a traffic accident.
Both victims had been shot.
Investigators are now treating the case as a double homicide, and the family says they believe the trip to meet the seller may have been connected to what happened.
A Teen’s Last Conversation With His Family
Victor Gonzalez’s 15-year-old son, Jessie Waterman, told local media that his father and sister had been planning to pick up a PlayStation 5 that they found listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
“They were going to get a PlayStation 5 off Facebook Marketplace,” the teen said in an interview with a Memphis television station. But the console purchase never happened.
Instead, deputies from the Panola County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a single-vehicle crash along River Road early in the morning. When officers arrived, they found the vehicle and the two victims inside.
Authorities later confirmed both had died from gunshot wounds.
Signs They May Have Tried to Escape
Family members say details at the scene suggest Victor and Serenity may have attempted to flee before the crash.
Jessie Waterman told reporters that the family vehicle had mud along the sides and unusual tire tracks nearby, which made him believe something frightening may have happened during the meetup.
“From what it looks like, they were trying to flee,” he said.
Law enforcement has not confirmed exactly what led to the shooting or whether the Marketplace meeting was connected to the attack, but investigators say the case remains active.
Panola County Sheriff Shane Phelps said authorities cannot release many details yet as detectives work to piece together what happened.
A Family Left With Questions
For Jessie Waterman, the loss of his father and sister has left an enormous void.
He described his dad as someone who always tried to take care of his family and said his sister was the person who could always make him laugh. “We were like two peas in a pod,” he said while remembering Serenity.
As investigators search for leads, the family says they hope someone with information will come forward.
Authorities are asking anyone who may know something about the incident to contact CrimeStoppers of Panola County.
The Risks of Marketplace Meetups
Facebook Marketplace and similar platforms have become a common way for people to buy and sell electronics, furniture, and other items locally.
But law enforcement officials often warn buyers and sellers to meet in well-lit public areas or designated police station safe-exchange zones to reduce risks when dealing with strangers.
Many police departments now encourage these safety measures after several crimes across the country have been linked to online marketplace meetups.
For the Gonzalez family, what should have been a simple purchase turned into a tragedy that has shaken their community and left loved ones searching for answers. Sources: People
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