Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax was an accomplished dentist and a loving mom to two teenage children. On April 16, 2026, she was , former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who then killed himself, according to news reports. This apparent intimate partner murder-suicide has garnered widespread because of Justin Fairfax’s public profile.
As if to prove how pervasive such incidents are, just three days later, on April 19, 2026, eight children were killed in a in Louisiana. Seven of the children were , who also killed another child and wounded his wife and another woman in the same attack, according to news reports. Both wounded women were .
Two-thirds of mass shootings in the United States are , and 40% of the victims in domestic violence-related mass shootings . The terms domestic violence homicide and intimate partner homicide are often used interchangeably, but the former includes all killings within a household or family, while the latter specifically refers to murders related to a current or former partner.
I am a who studies risk factors for and . Research consistently shows that the period of separation and divorce is when the risk of intimate partner homicide is highest.
Tragically, the by an intimate partner are common but often misunderstood or unrecognized. All too often, escalating behaviors during separation may be chalked up to a “messy divorce” or “custody battle.” But such language obscures patterns of danger that are recognizable, predictable – and, importantly, preventable.
Clear warning signs for domestic violence homicides
Four of the most dangerous warning signs that a woman is at risk of being murdered by an intimate partner are , , prior and . Other that indicate a partner may kill include unemployment, substance use, problematic drinking, controlling or jealous behavior, abuse during pregnancy, rape and prior threats of suicide or with weapons.
The pattern of behavior matters. These risk factors and are best understood not in isolation but in how they interact.
Several elements in the that should have prompted intervention: Justin Fairfax’s unemployment, problematic drinking and firearm access; a prior concern for suicide; and a separation that involved an ongoing family court case for divorce and child custody. The warning signs were there: Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax was in danger.
Who is most at risk?
Nearly by a current, former or estranged intimate partner. is a leading cause of mortality for women of reproductive age, and at disproportionately higher rates. The of intimate partner murder-suicides – 95% – are women. The killer is almost always a man, the weapon is , and these incidents occur most often in the home.
The uncomfortable truth is that the for women.
Children are not spared from this danger. Research shows that if , and is also a leading cause of death of American children. What’s more, 40% of children who are murdered in a domestic violence mass shooting are killed by a parent – someone who should love and protect them – .
Turns out, for children too.
Children who survive their mothers’ murder find their bodies or witness the homicide .
Cerina Wanzer Fairfax’s teenage son found her and called 911. Behind these heartbreaking details is trauma that is difficult to comprehend. The needs and long-term outcomes of of intimate partner homicide, like the Fairfax children and those who may have , remain largely invisible in the research on domestic violence. Addressing this research gap is essential for communities to respond effectively to support the needs of children who are surviving devastating grief.
Separation is the most lethal time
Contrary to common misperception, leaving an abusive relationship does not end the abuse – nor does it necessarily lead to safety. About half of murders of women by an intimate partner or when she is involved in civil family law proceedings, including civil protective orders, child custody, separation and divorce. Physical separation, such as moving out, coupled with legal separation is .
The gunman in the Louisiana case , and the duo had a court appearance scheduled for the day following the shooting, according to news reports.
Separation is particularly risky from a controlling partner, or perhaps more aptly worded, from someone who is losing control. Women who leave a controlling male partner are .
The judge in the Fairfax custody proceedings noted that Justin Fairfax had purchased a gun in 2022 with . People who engage in abusive behaviors may threaten their partners with firearms, which can often include subtle threats toward their children.
Assessing risk and accessing interventions
Guns and separation are a deadly combination. Research shows that in about perpetrated by men with a firearm, family court is somehow involved. In other words, the homicide perpetrator was participating in legal proceedings relating to separation, divorce or child custody.
This evidence points to family court proceedings as a place where interventions could work. Research shows that , which allow courts to remove firearms from people identified as being at high risk for using violence against a partner, reduce the risk of intimate partner homicide-suicides. is one of the few effective interventions for reducing intimate partner homicide.
Researchers have developed tools that can help advocates and legal professionals identify women most at risk as well as help women recognize their own risk. A particularly one is the , which can be used in health, legal and advocacy settings.
But screening on its own is not enough. Women at high risk need to be connected to safety planning resources. People who may be concerned for themselves or a loved one can use an app such as , which incorporates the danger assessment and provides safety planning suggestions.
Intimate partner homicides follow a pattern of . And predictable patterns are very often preventable. The warning signs are well studied. Translating that knowledge into consistent recognition and response across courts, law enforcement and communities is where the work remains.
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