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Cerina Fairfax

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


Cerina Fairfax
File:CerinaFairfax.jpg
Second Lady of Virginia
In role
January 13, 2018 – January 15, 2022
Lieutenant GovernorJustin Fairfax
Preceded byPamela Northam
Succeeded byTerence Sears (as Second Gentleman)
Personal details
Born
Cerina Wanzer

(1977-02-24)February 24, 1977
DiedApril 16, 2026(2026-04-16) (aged 49)
Woodburn, Virginia, U.S.
Cause of deathMurder by gunshot wound
Spouse(s)
Justin Fairfax
(m. 2006; separated 2024)
[1]
Children2
RelativesArisce Wanzer (sister)
EducationDuke University (BS)
Virginia Commonwealth University (DDS)
OccupationDentist

Cerina Wanzer Fairfax (née Wanzer; February 24, 1977 – April 16, 2026) was an American dentist and the second lady of Virginia from 2018 to 2022.

Early life and education

Fairfax was born on February 24, 1977.[2][unreliable source?] She grew up in Prince William County, Virginia and attended Woodbridge High School.[3] She was a sister of actress Arisce Wanzer. Fairfax graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999.[4] She graduated magna cum laude with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Dentistry in 2005 and was inducted into the dental honor society Omicron Kappa Upsilon.[4][5] She later completed a residency program in Advanced Education in General Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University.[4] In 2015, VCU School of Dentistry honored her as an outstanding alumna.[5]

Career and public life

Cerina was a dental surgeon and the founder and owner of Dr. Fairfax & Associates Family Dentistry, a dental practice in Oakton, Virginia.[6][7] She was a member of the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, and the Northern Virginia Dental Society.[8][unreliable source?] She also served on the board of a condo association.[9]

Upon Justin's swearing in as the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2018, Cerena became the Second Lady of Virginia.[10][11] Her first public appearance was at the inauguration of the Lt. Governor and Governor Ralph Northam on January 13, 2018 in Richmond.[3] She attended political meetings and fundraisers, but reportedly preferred to be away from the public eye.[3] Cerina served as second lady until 2022.[10]

Personal life and death

Cerina met Justin Fairfax while the two were students at Duke University.[6] They married on June 17, 2006, at the Netherlands Carillon Gardens in Arlington, Virginia.[12][13] They lived in Fairfax County with their son and daughter.[14]

Documents obtained by People following her death confirmed that Cerina and Justin had separated in 2024.[1] She filed for divorce on July 18, 2025, with the two acknowledged to still be in the process of divorcing at the time of her death.[1][15]

In early 2026, Justin accused her of assault, but recordings from security cameras she installed inside the family home showed authorities that no assault had taken place.[14]

Murder

On the morning of April 16, 2026, Cerina and Justin were found dead in an apparent murder–suicide at their home in Fairfax County.[16][17][18] Justin reportedly shot her multiple times and then himself.[19] Their two children were home at the time of the killing and their son called the authorities following the shooting.[18] The two were separated, and in the process of divorcing, but were living together at the time of their deaths.[19] Though they were still living together during their separation and divorce planning, court documents obtained by Washington, D.C.-based News 4 revealed that Justin had been ordered to move out of their home by the end of April 2026, with a judge also ordering him to be fined $300 for each day he continued not to comply with orders and compensate his wife for money he owed her.[20] Justin was also confirmed to have lost custody of his children as well.[20]

Legacy and tributes

Cerina was memorialized by individuals and organizations, including: the Association of Black Women Physicians; [21] Virginia State Representative Jennifer McClellan; Ryan Dunn, CEO of the Virginia Dental Association and Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, interim dean, Virginia Commonwealth School of Dentistry.[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Comiter, Jordana (April 16, 2026). "What to Know About Former Politician Justin Fairfax's Kids and Estranged Wife amid Murder-Suicide Case". People. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Happy Birthday to my brilliant and beautiful bride, Dr. Cerina W. Fairfax, DDS!!". Facebook. February 24, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Schneider, Gregory S.; Vozzella, Laura; Paquette, Danielle; Armus, Teo (April 18, 2026). "Justin Fairfax grew obsessed with clearing his name. His family paid the price". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Meet Dr. Cerina W Fairfax". Dr. Fairfax & Associates Family Dentistry. Fairfax, Virginia. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Biesecker, Michael; Ellgren, Nathan (April 16, 2026). "Justin Fairfax, who nearly became Virginia governor, killed his wife and himself, police say". Associated Press. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mates, Thomas (April 16, 2026). "Who is Dr. Cerina Fairfax? What we know about woman killed by ex-Virginia Lt. Governor". WJLA-TV. Washington, D.C.
  7. ↑ Hamburg, Daniel (April 17, 2026). "Dr. Cerina Fairfax remembered by friends, patients after Annandale murder-suicide". DC News Now. Washington, D.C. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  8. ↑ P., Haniyah (April 17, 2026). "Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax was more than just a 'wife'". AOL. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  9. ↑ Mates, Thomas (April 16, 2025). "Who is Dr. Cerina Fairfax? What we know about woman killed by ex-Virginia Lt. Governor". KEPR-TV. Pasco, Washington. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Riess, Rebekah (April 17, 2026). "Cerina Fairfax: Beloved dentist and devoted mother killed by husband, former Virginia lieutenant governor". CNN. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ McNamara, Sylvie (April 17, 2026). "Cerina Fairfax's Murder Fits a Terrifying Pattern". Washingtonian. Washington, D.C. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  12. ↑ Bajaj, Yash Nitish (April 16, 2026). "'Deeply grateful…': What Ex-Virginia Lt Gov Justin Fairfax said about wife Cerina before filing for divorce". Hindustan Times. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  13. ↑ Siwaki, Miranda (April 16, 2026). "Who Was Justin Fairfax's Estranged Wife? What to Know About Cerina Fairfax After Their Deaths". Us Weekly. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Schmidt, Markus (April 16, 2026). "Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills wife, then himself, police say • Virginia Mercury". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  15. ↑ Riess, Rebekah; Levenson, Eric; Todd, Brian; McConnell, Dugald (April 16, 2026). "Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills his wife and then himself, police say". CNN. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Former lieutenant governor of Virginia kills wife and himself, police say". Al Jazeera. April 16, 2026. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  17. ↑ Fortin, Jacey; Robertson, Campbell (April 16, 2026). "Virginia Ex-Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax Kills Wife and Self, Police Say". New York Times. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Rosenthal, Sophie; Bove, Nick (April 16, 2026). "Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife, himself in Annandale, police confirm". WUSA. CBS News. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Stein, Chris (April 16, 2026). "Justin Fairfax, ex-lieutenant governor of Virginia, kills wife and himself". The Guardian. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Wilder, Drew (April 16, 2026). "Justin Fairfax lost custody of kids, was ordered to move out, court documents say". News4 Washington. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  21. ↑ "In Memory of Dr. Cerina Fairfax". Association of Black Women Physicians. April 2026. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Patients and dental community mourn Dr. Cerina Fairfax, killed by Virginia's ex-lieutenant governor". AP News. 2026-04-17. Retrieved 2026-04-24.


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