New details have emerged in the murder-suicide involving former Virginia Governor Justin Fairfax and his estranged wife Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, shedding light on their family and the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Authorities said the couple’s two teenage children — son Cameron and daughter Carys — were at their home in Annandale, Virginia, at the time of the shooting.
Their son Cameronhigh school student and basketball player, called 911 shortly after midnight and initially reported that his mother had been assaulted. Police later confirmed that she had been shot.
Justin Fairfax has previously shared glimpses of family life on social media, posting photos from Cameron’s basketball games and Carys lacrosse tournamentsreflecting their active involvement in school sports and extracurricular activities.
Officials described the situation as chaotic and traumatic, noting that both children were present in the home during the incident. They are currently being assisted by victim support services.
The estranged wife: dentist and academic
Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, 49, was a practicing dentist with an established career, according to People. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Duke University, she went on to complete her doctorate in dental surgery at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in 2005.
She was later recognized as the dental school’s “Alumnus of the Decade” based on past social media posts by Justin Fairfax.
The couple met as students at Duke University and married in 2006.
Divorce proceedings
The couple had been married for 19 years but were going through what police described as a “complicated” or “messy” divorce at the time of the incident.
Cerina Fairfax filed for divorce last year, and Justin Fairfax reportedly received legal paperwork related to the proceedings days before the shooting. He was also due to appear in court in the coming days.
Police previously responded to the home in January after Justin Fairfax was charged, although authorities did not examine the evidence, no arrests were made.
Details of the murder-suicide
According to investigators, Justin Fairfax shot his wife multiple times before moving to another part of the house and fatally shooting himself.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said the incident appeared to unfold quickly, without a prolonged confrontation.
Authorities found both dead after calling 911. Police said they are not looking for additional suspects and that the investigation is ongoing.
Justin Fairfax: Career and Net Worth
Justin Fairfax, 47, served as the 41st governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022 and was previously a federal prosecutor. He later returned to legal practice after leaving office.
There is no publicly verified estimate of Fairfax’s net worth. While his political campaign raised approximately $3.9 million in 2017, detailed personal financial or asset information has not been released.
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