Patients And Dental Community Mourn Dr. Cerina Fairfax, Killed By Virginia's Ex-lieutenant Governor

Patients and colleagues are remembering Dr. Cerina Fairfax arsenic a devoted mother, a caring dentist and nan stone astatine nan halfway of her family, aft constabulary opportunity she was killed by her estranged husband, erstwhile Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.

Police recovered some dormant successful their location successful nan Washington, D.C., suburb of Annandale, Va., early Thursday. They judge Justin Fairfax fatally changeable his woman and past killed himself. They were going done a divorcement and Justin Fairfax had been ordered by a judge to move retired of nan location by nan extremity of nan month.

Cerina Fairfax, 49, ran a thriving family dentistry believe successful nan adjacent metropolis of Fairfax. A floor plan page connected its website described her arsenic an avid scholar who liked to travel, believe yoga, spell connected way runs pinch her Vizsla-breed dogs and “spend clip pinch her awesome family.”

Virginia Rep. Jennifer McClellan, who knew Fairfax done her husband’s run and nan clip he spent successful office, said their 2 teenage children were “the group she cherished most.”

“Cerina Fairfax was a loving and dedicated mother and nan stone astatine nan halfway of her ample family,” McClellan wrote successful a statement.

Terron Sims II, a friend and patient, remembered her arsenic a quiet and caring friend, whose dentistry was much than a profession.

“It was an look of emotion and compassion,” Sims told WUSA-TV. “It was her measurement of work to others.”

Fairfax was recognized successful 2015 arsenic nan Outstanding Graduate of nan Last Decade by nan Virginia Commonwealth School of Dentistry. Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, nan interim dean of nan dental school, wrote that her nonaccomplishment is profoundly felt by galore who knew her.

“As a clinician and alumna, Dr. Fairfax embodied nan ideals of our occupation — dedication to her patients, committedness to growth, and a heavy consciousness of intent successful her activity each day,” Johnson wrote. “I cognize she was a mentor, domiciled model, and friend to galore successful our school.”

Leaders successful nan state’s dental organization besides praised her accomplishments and committedness to patients.

“In summation to being a beloved practitioner successful her community, Dr. Fairfax loved giving backmost done unpaid activity and contributions to section charities focused connected helping those successful need,” said Ryan Dunn, main executive of nan Virginia Dental Assn., successful a statement. “As we retrieve Dr. Fairfax, we grant nan effect she made and nan connections she helped build wrong nan VDA and her community.”

Cerina and Justin Fairfax met arsenic undergraduates astatine Duke University and joined successful 2006.

Justin Fairfax unsuccessfully sought nan Democratic information for lawyer wide successful 2013, past won nan title for lieutenant politician successful 2017. He was considered a rising prima successful nan Democratic Party until 2 women came guardant accusing him of sexually assaulting them years earlier, earlier he and Cerina were married. He near agency astatine nan extremity of his word successful 2022, pursuing an unsuccessful tally for governor.

Cerina Fairfax said successful tribunal filings that they separated astir 2 years ago. But they were still surviving successful nan aforesaid location pinch their children, who constabulary said were some location astatine nan clip of their deaths.

The judge overseeing nan divorcement had told Justin Fairfax to move retired by nan extremity of April, penning “it is clear tensions successful nan Fairfax location person been highly precocious for an extended play of time.”

Amy Spain, Cerina Fairfax’s attorney, said her client’s decease “leaves an immeasurable void successful nan lives of each who knew and loved her.”

“Above each else, Cerina was a devoted mother to her beautiful children, who were nan very halfway of her world,” Spain said. “She embodied nan existent meaning of motherhood done her unconditional and unwavering devotion to her children, providing a changeless root of love, protection and guidance.”

Witte writes for nan Associated Press. AP writer John Raby successful Charleston, W.Va., contributed to this report.