WASHINGTON (7News) — “Cerina Fairfax, anyone who knew her, knew she was an amazing woman, kind, good, a great dentist, faithful to her patients and her community, and faithful and loyal to her husband at the most difficult and darkest moment for their marriage and their family,” said Sophia Nelson on social media.
Sophia Nelson, a longtime friend of Justin Fairfax, posted a seven-minute video on X talking about her grief over the murder-suicide on Thursday morning.
Cerina Fairfax was killed in her home by her husband, former Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax, who then took his own life.
“There is no excuse for what he did. It’s unconscionable,” wrote Nelson on X.
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Nelson said she spoke to Justin on Tuesday.
She told 7News Investigative Reporter Scott Taylor she saw no warning signs of potential violence. Though she and others close to him had encouraged him to get help as he struggled with the couple’s impending divorce.
But she didn’t know a judge had ordered him to move out of the house and granted custody of their children to Cerina.
“I was also unaware that there was a gun in the home. Had I been aware of those two things, I think I could speak for a couple of other people who were talking to him as late as Tuesday. I would have physically gone to the house and gotten the weapon out,” Nelson said.
The couple had been navigating their divorce since 2024.
“You mentioned that you spoke to him on Tuesday. Was there any indication that law enforcement should be contacted about what was happening to him and his family life?” asks Taylor.
“No, I mean Justin was depressed pretty much every day. He was down,” adds Nelson.
While serving as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor in 2019, Justin was accused of sexual assault by two women, dating back to 2000 and 2004, before he was married. He denied those claims, and no charges were ever filed.
RELATED | Ex-Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax faced sexual assault allegations before murder-suicide
And while his political career would never recover, his wife, Cerina, stood by him.
“When he spoke about Cerina, even in the context of divorcing never said anything unkind or hateful,” says Nelson.
Nelson wrapped up her X post by saying, “I think there is a bigger conversation to have on this, but not right now. I think we need to talk about men in depression. I think we need to talk about domestic violence.”
If you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org for confidential support 24/7.