Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax - murder/suicide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could there be processes that get guns temporarily confiscated during family law proceedings if there has been red flag behaviors like alcoholism and fights? Just getting rid of the easy access might help in situations like this.

Virginia has red flag laws. But someone has to feel comfortable making the report without fear of retaliation. The person responsible for half your kids' tuition and the mortgage - you comfortable reporting on them?

She was a dentist, FFS. Of course she could afford to walk away, rent a small apartment, either cover kids' tuition by herself or put them into public school for a period of divorce. This is really bothers me - according to the article, she knew he purchased the gun in 2022. She knew for at least several months he was heavy drinker. She knew that he does not value human lives. Why was she staying in the same house with him?

She can't force him to leave their jointly owned house. She eventually had to get a court order to force him to leave the house, and he literally murdered her days later.

My guess why she didn't leave -- he has no money. He makes little and spends everything. He would have let the house go into foreclosure and would have been homeless. It's an incredibly uncomfortable and difficult situation.

And while she likely makes good money as a dentist, it sure sounds like he put their family in dire straits financially. She entered into a post-nuptial agreement whereby they separated finances so that she could protect herself, and he didn't hold up any of his end of the bargain, which is why she initiated divorce and separation. I'd guess they drained everything on legal fees and he accumulated massive debts in both of their names.

Try to be less of an a**hole.

Yes, exactly this. He left her to carry the burden of every single thing, for years; the judge lambasted him for it. She resorted to hiding their food in her room and cutting off his wifi access, because all he did was bleed them dry without giving a single thing in return. He at least could have made an effort in the house and with the kids, but he did nothing. Only cared for himself.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It is reported they were in the middle of a messy divorce. So awful.

Ugh. Another layer of awful.

In Virginia, you must be separated for a year in order to get divorced and you can live in the same house while being separated (if you move you it can be seen by the court as abandoning your claim to the house, happened to my cousin). Reports are that the couple had started this process so I am not surprised they were both still living in the house.

Fairfax made an accusation against his wife earlier this year that she had physically assaulted him. Apparently she had cameras in the house and after reviewing the footage the police determined the assault claim wasn't valid and there was a scheduled upcoming court date re this incident which could be what triggered the current awful events.

There were 2 teen sons in the house. This is absolutely awful.

I hope this is a wake up call to change the law re: leaving the home. It forces women into staying in a potentially very dangerous situation.

That and the 1 year separation. What is the purpose??
Tragic.

Maryland recently shortened their one year separation requirement to six months if there are no children in the marriage. I think the rationale is that the state has an interest in wanting couples to be sure they need to get a divorce before they do? Not supporting this.

Virginia has that law too. Six months with no kids, but that wouldn't have changed anything here.

In Virginia if you file for divorce on grounds like cruelty there's no separation period, but then you're basically litigating almost a DV case (it's not quite that hard, but it's not easy) plus handling the difficulties of divorce.

Hopefully without wading too much into the controversy, I do hope this case highlights how dangerous the period after separation is for women in divorce cases in far too many cases, and perhaps has an impact on Virginia law. It's not just the ability to physically leave - there's so much more, though certainly not less.

She filed one year and one day after the date of separation. They had been separated since June/July 2024 according to her filing, so she filed in July 2025. It appears the issue may have been over the house, and if either of them left/moved out they abandon their rights to claim it. This is what kept her in jeopardy if she felt she couldn't leave. The required separation time was over.

This is not accurate for Virginia. I left the house because of DV, stayed out for the duration of the divorce litigation in court, and still ended up with the house in the end. If kids are involved and divorce is contentious, you can make a very strong argument for living apart from the other parent (in the best interest of the children).
The way my attorney explained it: a judge could question my parenting judgement if I returned home, knowing that both of us being in the same home would not be healthy for the kids.

Recommend your attorney 🙏

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if there were cameras in the basement as that is where he killed her.

I hope there is a watershed of information on when he got his gun and other indications of violence escalation. Somehow I don't believe like others have suggested that he just "snapped." His world was crumbling and he wasn't going down alone. At least he spared his children, but to what a traumatized future at that.

He’s an anti gun champion so really interested on how he obtained the murder weapon

Now his fraternity brothers are mourning his loss and people are going after the women he raped/sexually assaulted.

Can people not see that this guy was a total piece of junk?

I read an article this morning about how Celina Fairfax was a wonderful mother. Her neighbor said she built her children a zip line and above ground pool in the backyard, by herself. And she did everything for the household and kids. Those poor kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could there be processes that get guns temporarily confiscated during family law proceedings if there has been red flag behaviors like alcoholism and fights? Just getting rid of the easy access might help in situations like this.

Virginia has red flag laws. But someone has to feel comfortable making the report without fear of retaliation. The person responsible for half your kids' tuition and the mortgage - you comfortable reporting on them?

She was a dentist, FFS. Of course she could afford to walk away, rent a small apartment, either cover kids' tuition by herself or put them into public school for a period of divorce. This is really bothers me - according to the article, she knew he purchased the gun in 2022. She knew for at least several months he was heavy drinker. She knew that he does not value human lives. Why was she staying in the same house with him?

She can't force him to leave their jointly owned house. She eventually had to get a court order to force him to leave the house, and he literally murdered her days later.

My guess why she didn't leave -- he has no money. He makes little and spends everything. He would have let the house go into foreclosure and would have been homeless. It's an incredibly uncomfortable and difficult situation.

And while she likely makes good money as a dentist, it sure sounds like he put their family in dire straits financially. She entered into a post-nuptial agreement whereby they separated finances so that she could protect herself, and he didn't hold up any of his end of the bargain, which is why she initiated divorce and separation. I'd guess they drained everything on legal fees and he accumulated massive debts in both of their names.

Try to be less of an a**hole.

People leave their spouses every single day. She could have moved out with an emergency custody order. I know people who got their spouse booted from the house and supervised visitation based on much, much less. I’m not saying this to criticize her but to correct the impression that people are stuck in the marital house with their abuser.

[Anonymous]

^the hashtag #stopkillingus

So so gross

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could there be processes that get guns temporarily confiscated during family law proceedings if there has been red flag behaviors like alcoholism and fights? Just getting rid of the easy access might help in situations like this.

Virginia has red flag laws. But someone has to feel comfortable making the report without fear of retaliation. The person responsible for half your kids' tuition and the mortgage - you comfortable reporting on them?

She was a dentist, FFS. Of course she could afford to walk away, rent a small apartment, either cover kids' tuition by herself or put them into public school for a period of divorce. This is really bothers me - according to the article, she knew he purchased the gun in 2022. She knew for at least several months he was heavy drinker. She knew that he does not value human lives. Why was she staying in the same house with him?

She can't force him to leave their jointly owned house. She eventually had to get a court order to force him to leave the house, and he literally murdered her days later.

My guess why she didn't leave -- he has no money. He makes little and spends everything. He would have let the house go into foreclosure and would have been homeless. It's an incredibly uncomfortable and difficult situation.

And while she likely makes good money as a dentist, it sure sounds like he put their family in dire straits financially. She entered into a post-nuptial agreement whereby they separated finances so that she could protect herself, and he didn't hold up any of his end of the bargain, which is why she initiated divorce and separation. I'd guess they drained everything on legal fees and he accumulated massive debts in both of their names.

Try to be less of an a**hole.

People leave their spouses every single day. She could have moved out with an emergency custody order. I know people who got their spouse booted from the house and supervised visitation based on much, much less. I’m not saying this to criticize her but to correct the impression that people are stuck in the marital house with their abuser.

Not true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could there be processes that get guns temporarily confiscated during family law proceedings if there has been red flag behaviors like alcoholism and fights? Just getting rid of the easy access might help in situations like this.

Virginia has red flag laws. But someone has to feel comfortable making the report without fear of retaliation. The person responsible for half your kids' tuition and the mortgage - you comfortable reporting on them?

She was a dentist, FFS. Of course she could afford to walk away, rent a small apartment, either cover kids' tuition by herself or put them into public school for a period of divorce. This is really bothers me - according to the article, she knew he purchased the gun in 2022. She knew for at least several months he was heavy drinker. She knew that he does not value human lives. Why was she staying in the same house with him?

Because the other option is to leave him with the kids. Leaving either the kids is kidnapping

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could there be processes that get guns temporarily confiscated during family law proceedings if there has been red flag behaviors like alcoholism and fights? Just getting rid of the easy access might help in situations like this.

Virginia has red flag laws. But someone has to feel comfortable making the report without fear of retaliation. The person responsible for half your kids' tuition and the mortgage - you comfortable reporting on them?

She was a dentist, FFS. Of course she could afford to walk away, rent a small apartment, either cover kids' tuition by herself or put them into public school for a period of divorce. This is really bothers me - according to the article, she knew he purchased the gun in 2022. She knew for at least several months he was heavy drinker. She knew that he does not value human lives. Why was she staying in the same house with him?

Because the other option is to leave him with the kids. Leaving either the kids is kidnapping

^^ leaving with the kids is kidnapping

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could there be processes that get guns temporarily confiscated during family law proceedings if there has been red flag behaviors like alcoholism and fights? Just getting rid of the easy access might help in situations like this.

Virginia has red flag laws. But someone has to feel comfortable making the report without fear of retaliation. The person responsible for half your kids' tuition and the mortgage - you comfortable reporting on them?

She was a dentist, FFS. Of course she could afford to walk away, rent a small apartment, either cover kids' tuition by herself or put them into public school for a period of divorce. This is really bothers me - according to the article, she knew he purchased the gun in 2022. She knew for at least several months he was heavy drinker. She knew that he does not value human lives. Why was she staying in the same house with him?

She can't force him to leave their jointly owned house. She eventually had to get a court order to force him to leave the house, and he literally murdered her days later.

My guess why she didn't leave -- he has no money. He makes little and spends everything. He would have let the house go into foreclosure and would have been homeless. It's an incredibly uncomfortable and difficult situation.

And while she likely makes good money as a dentist, it sure sounds like he put their family in dire straits financially. She entered into a post-nuptial agreement whereby they separated finances so that she could protect herself, and he didn't hold up any of his end of the bargain, which is why she initiated divorce and separation. I'd guess they drained everything on legal fees and he accumulated massive debts in both of their names.

Try to be less of an a**hole.

People leave their spouses every single day. She could have moved out with an emergency custody order. I know people who got their spouse booted from the house and supervised visitation based on much, much less. I’m not saying this to criticize her but to correct the impression that people are stuck in the marital house with their abuser.

He was planning to kill her since 2022. She was getting shot one way or another. Unless she truly skipped town to a hiding place he couldn’t find or afford to get to.

[Anonymous]

Financial filings from the divorce show that while his legal practice made more than $400,000 in 2023, he brought in just $11,000 in 2024 and had earned $0 as of November 2025.

So to the poster who said he had a booming legal practice, he certainly did not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could there be processes that get guns temporarily confiscated during family law proceedings if there has been red flag behaviors like alcoholism and fights? Just getting rid of the easy access might help in situations like this.

Virginia has red flag laws. But someone has to feel comfortable making the report without fear of retaliation. The person responsible for half your kids' tuition and the mortgage - you comfortable reporting on them?

She was a dentist, FFS. Of course she could afford to walk away, rent a small apartment, either cover kids' tuition by herself or put them into public school for a period of divorce. This is really bothers me - according to the article, she knew he purchased the gun in 2022. She knew for at least several months he was heavy drinker. She knew that he does not value human lives. Why was she staying in the same house with him?

You really, really don't understand abuse, the addicted family system, or the cost of divorce, do you.

Even if her lawyer charged her $150,000+ for divorce, she certainly can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could there be processes that get guns temporarily confiscated during family law proceedings if there has been red flag behaviors like alcoholism and fights? Just getting rid of the easy access might help in situations like this.

Virginia has red flag laws. But someone has to feel comfortable making the report without fear of retaliation. The person responsible for half your kids' tuition and the mortgage - you comfortable reporting on them?

She was a dentist, FFS. Of course she could afford to walk away, rent a small apartment, either cover kids' tuition by herself or put them into public school for a period of divorce. This is really bothers me - according to the article, she knew he purchased the gun in 2022. She knew for at least several months he was heavy drinker. She knew that he does not value human lives. Why was she staying in the same house with him?

She can't force him to leave their jointly owned house. She eventually had to get a court order to force him to leave the house, and he literally murdered her days later.

My guess why she didn't leave -- he has no money. He makes little and spends everything. He would have let the house go into foreclosure and would have been homeless. It's an incredibly uncomfortable and difficult situation.

And while she likely makes good money as a dentist, it sure sounds like he put their family in dire straits financially. She entered into a post-nuptial agreement whereby they separated finances so that she could protect herself, and he didn't hold up any of his end of the bargain, which is why she initiated divorce and separation. I'd guess they drained everything on legal fees and he accumulated massive debts in both of their names.

Try to be less of an a**hole.

She cannot force him to leave the family house, but she was free to leave the house with the kids while divorce is pending. House in Annadale, even if it worth $1,000000 is not worth the life and damage to the children. She should let the house go into foreclosure and re-built her life after divorce, she had all the basis for that, great education, job and experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't read the entire thread--a lot of it, but not all--so my apologies if someone else already said this.

She is a dentist. That means she works in a place that has to be publicly known in order for her to get patients. IOW, it's not a job in which she can work from home or a domestic violence shelter. Even if she only saw existing patients who were willing to come to her, she's not going to have the equipment she needs to treat them.

In that case, an order of protection or just moving out is of limited use. She can move out of their shared home, but he knows exactly where she's going to be most of the day most days. An order of protection isn't going to stop a man angry enough to murder her sitting in the parking lot waiting for her to go into or come out of the building or, worse, storming into her office and shooting her in front of her co-workers. There are a gazillion women with protection orders who moved out of a shared abode and were killed at work or en route to/from work by enraged ex boyfriends and husbands.

Plus, they have kids. Even if she took them with her, he knows where they go to school and she might worry that he will pressure them to tell him where she is if she does stay out of work. Shooting your kids to punish a wife you're angry with isn't rare.

So, I wish those of you who are blaming her for not leaving and saying that was an easy solution would stop.

I disagree that people should stop saying that there was a choice for her to leave. The more we spread out this idea to the women, the more women will understand that in DV cases they can (and should) leave. Saying that this is not the option for the victim will create more victims in a future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if there were cameras in the basement as that is where he killed her.

I hope there is a watershed of information on when he got his gun and other indications of violence escalation. Somehow I don't believe like others have suggested that he just "snapped." His world was crumbling and he wasn't going down alone. At least he spared his children, but to what a traumatized future at that.

He’s an anti gun champion so really interested on how he obtained the murder weapon

Now his fraternity brothers are mourning his loss and people are going after the women he raped/sexually assaulted.

Can people not see that this guy was a total piece of junk?

I read an article this morning about how Celina Fairfax was a wonderful mother. Her neighbor said she built her children a zip line and above ground pool in the backyard, by herself. And she did everything for the household and kids. Those poor kids.

The people who stood by him during the first SA accusations are as guilty as he. They all knew he is a predator, and continued to defend him for the politics sake.

[Anonymous]

You people just have no idea. Former DV survivor here who lost in custody court this month because “he’s still a good father.” Um no. He’s actually really not.