A Hole in Our Souls (After every intimate partner homicide-suicide)
Dr. Cerina W. Fairfax, Age 49
Dr. Cerina W. Fairfax, was a 2005 Virginia Commonwealth Uniiversity School of Dentistry alumna, who was killed in a murder suicide last Thursday, April 16, 2026 , by her soon to be divorced husband, Justin Fairfax
Prior to that time, Dr. Fairfax earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University in 1999. She went on to graduate magna cum laude from the VCU School of Dentistry in 2005.
After continuing her training with VCU through their Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program, Dr. Fairfax practiced dentistry for two decades in Northern Virginia, opening her own practice, Dr. Fairfax & Associates Family Dentistry.
\Cerina and Justin Fairfax met as undergraduates at Duke University and married in 2006. Justin Fairfax unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for attorney general in 2013, then won the race for lieutenant governor in 2017.
They had two children Cameron 16 and Carys 14, both gifted academically and athletically who attended private schools.
The Aftermath-
If only…. Those within the circle of the Fairfax family could have foreseen what occurred - an unimaginable family tragedy which left two teenaged children without parents.
However, it doesn’t take much to predict that they should have known it would happen under these circumstances.
It matters not that you have an education or that you have a prestigious address.
Would they have taken steps to help Dr. Cerina and the children?
Would they have known what to do?
Chances are, even if she had divulged her problems, many ‘on the outside’ feel helpless.
The reasons for intimate partner/ domestic)/ family violence are as varied and diverse as the people themselves. But there are many common themes.
Among them, is the use of financial abuse- (a spouse totally controlling the access and use of money and credit) such that the partner is trapped in their situation - a form of coercive control.
However, in this case, it was lack of financial funds to maintain separate households that largely contributed to this intolerable set of circumstances.
Dr. Cerina Fairfax and her husband (the perpetrator) and former Lt. Governor of Virginia - Justin Fairfax, were seemingly caught in financial conditions such that he was unable to re-start his life and career after sexual assault allegations, continuing in a downward spiral ending in fatalities.
As divorce proceedings were about to commence, I would ask, when is it ever a good idea for couples to co-habitate when they are divorcing?
Whether known by a judge or self-imposed, it does not help children under the same roof who witness the daily tension, hostility, stress, potential arguments, alcohol or drug abuse and physical abuse?
It is a toxic environment that cannot be fixed!
Virginia law apparently requires a 12 month record of financial accounting prior to a divorce being granted.
When you have no income or little income to ‘prove your worth’, it makes for a desperate situation.
*** However, this never is an excuse or license to take the lives of innocent people. Nor it is ever a reason to commit suicide.
But, the depths of despair and anger have no boundaries in such situations. Homicide does not kill the pain… it only increases it 100 fold as the impact runs wild in concentric circle fashion.
You have hurt and eliminated your number one enemy.
But you have also hurt your children and immeasurable numbers of people in the process by your selfish acts.
Reasonableness does not enter into such an equation.
Dr. Faiirfax had assumed legal custody of their children. Justin had sunk into self isolation, alcoholism and chain smoking. He reportedly was obsessed with ‘clearing his former good name regarding the sexual allegations. He purchased a handgun in 2022 with funds that were supposed to pay for his children’s horseback riding lessons.
In my opinion, whether the sexual allegations were true or not, those responsible for the allegations, knowingly or unknowingly contributed this crime. It will weigh on their hearts forever. Justice is never pure!
Given all that was going on ‘behind the walls’. friends of Cerina and her beloved dental patients had no clue of the fatal storm brewing.
Call to Action -
When you suspect or know that friends, neighbors and family are in trouble, typical responses are-
I think he/she is okay for he/she would have said something to me;
It’s just a rough patch for them
I can’t/don’t want to get involved… It’s not my business…
The court will sort it out
They are educated, intelligent people… I never thought it would happen!
All of these excuses/rationalizations are wrong-headed. Please do yourself and others a favor by becoming educated to the facts and tools available!)
One of the Solutions and the BEST Tools Available-
DocumenttheAbuse- The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit
LINK- https://documenttheabuse.org/
https://documenttheabuse.org/faqs
The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit -
What Is the EAA — and Why Does It Change Everything?
Born out of the case of Stacy Peterson, sister-in-law of Document the Abuse Executive Director, Norma Peterson, who disappeared in 2007, the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA) was created by the late domestic violence expert Susan Murphy-Milano to solve one of the most critical gaps in the justice system: the disappearance of the victim’s voice.
The EAA combines:
A detailed written statement of the survivor’s history and experiences with their abuser
Video testimony in the survivor’s own words
Supporting documentation: police reports, hospital records, photos, threatening messages
Critical identifying information about the abuser; photo, date of birth, SSN, employer, and whether firearms are in the home
When notarized, the EAA functions simultaneously as an affidavit and a legal will. It is specifically designed to overcome hearsay objections that derail domestic violence prosecutions, particularly when the victim has been killed, has gone missing, or is too afraid to testify. It is housed at DocumentTheAbuse.org and is completely free.
Now is the time for courage and to say, there is no reason NOT to use the best tools available to effectively and safely assist these in intimate partner/ family violence situations BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
I think it is very important that we also make it a goal to educate those in the political arena. It is a body of people fraught with excesses and therefore the potential to happen again and again!
From Norma Peterson Executive Director - DocumenttheAbuse
“Document the Abuse remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting victims and survivors. We have forged partnerships with various community organizations, legal experts, and policymakers to drive forward our mission. Our efforts have led to significant advancements in the recognition and handling of abuse cases, as well as the implementation of policies aimed at protecting survivors.”
If you wish to donate to this cutting edge, vitally important non-profit, please refer to this link
https://documenttheabuse.org/donate
Thank you!
May Dr. Cerina Fairfax make her mark in heaven, as she did here on earth!
Other Blogs of Interest for you-
https://donnagore.com/blog/the-legacy-of-tracy-thurmans-landmark-case-of-intimate-partner-violence-in-ct
https://donnagore.com/blog/anything-but-a-comedy-of-errors-the-ordeal-of-joan-rivers-death
Donna R. Gore