Intimate partner homicide has clear warning signs – and is often preventable, research shows
- Written by Kathryn Spearman, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Penn State
Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax was an accomplished dentist and a loving mom to two teenage children. On April 16, 2026, she was killed by her estranged husband[1], former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who then killed himself, according to news reports. This apparent intimate partner murder-suicide has garnered widespread media attention[2] 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 mass shooting related to intimate partner violence[3] in Louisiana. Seven of the children were shot by their father[4], who also killed another child and wounded his wife and another woman in the same attack, according to news reports. Both wounded women were mothers of some of the seven children[5].
Two-thirds of mass shootings in the United States are linked to domestic violence[6], and 40% of the victims in domestic violence-related mass shootings are children[7]. 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 public health nurse scientist[8] who studies risk factors for intimate partner homicides[9] and post-separation abuse[10]. Research consistently shows that the period of separation and divorce is when the risk of intimate partner homicide is highest.
Tragically, the warning signs that precede homicides[11] 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 firearm access[12], separation[13], prior nonfatal strangulation[14] and stalking[15]. Other red flags[16] 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 have been studied extensively[17] and are best understood not in isolation but in how they interact.
Several elements in the Fairfax case were red flags[18] 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 five women are murdered in America every day[20] by a current, former or estranged intimate partner. Intimate partner homicide[21] is a leading cause of mortality for women of reproductive age, and Black women are murdered[22] at disproportionately higher rates. The vast majority of adult victims[23] of intimate partner murder-suicides – 95% – are women. The killer is almost always a man, the weapon is most often a gun[24], and these incidents occur most often in the home.
The uncomfortable truth is that the home is the most dangerous place[25] for women.
Children are not spared from this danger. Research shows that children are at risk[26] if their mothers are at risk[27], and intimate partner violence[28] 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 – most often in their homes[29].
Turns out, home is the most dangerous place[30] for children too.
Children who survive their mothers’ murder find their bodies or witness the homicide in about 70% of cases[31].
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 child survivors[32] of intimate partner homicide, like the Fairfax children and those who may have witnessed the Louisiana mass shooting[33], 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 occur as or after a woman tries to leave the relationship[34] 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 associated with the greatest risk[35].
The gunman in the Louisiana case was separating from his wife[36], 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 nine times more likely to be murdered[37].
The judge in the Fairfax custody proceedings noted that Justin Fairfax had purchased a gun in 2022 with money designated for their children’s activities[38]. People who engage in abusive behaviors may directly or indirectly[39] 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 3 in 5 cases of murder-suicide[40] 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 domestic violence protection orders[41], 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. Removing firearm access[42] 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 well-tested[43] one is the danger assessment[44], 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 MyPlan[45], which incorporates the danger assessment and provides safety planning suggestions.
Intimate partner homicides follow a pattern of known, predictable risks[46]. 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.
References
- ^ killed by her estranged husband (www.washingtonpost.com)
- ^ media attention (www.nytimes.com)
- ^ mass shooting related to intimate partner violence (www.msn.com)
- ^ shot by their father (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ mothers of some of the seven children (apnews.com)
- ^ linked to domestic violence (doi.org)
- ^ are children (www.everytown.org)
- ^ public health nurse scientist (scholar.google.com)
- ^ intimate partner homicides (doi.org)
- ^ post-separation abuse (doi.org)
- ^ warning signs that precede homicides (doi.org)
- ^ firearm access (doi.org)
- ^ separation (doi.org)
- ^ nonfatal strangulation (doi.org)
- ^ stalking (doi.org)
- ^ red flags (doi.org)
- ^ have been studied extensively (doi.org)
- ^ Fairfax case were red flags (www.the-independent.com)
- ^ Alex Wong/Getty Images via Getty Images News (www.gettyimages.com)
- ^ five women are murdered in America every day (bjs.ojp.gov)
- ^ Intimate partner homicide (doi.org)
- ^ Black women are murdered (www.cdc.gov)
- ^ vast majority of adult victims (vpc.org)
- ^ most often a gun (vpc.org)
- ^ home is the most dangerous place (www.unodc.org)
- ^ children are at risk (theconversation.com)
- ^ their mothers are at risk (doi.org)
- ^ intimate partner violence (doi.org)
- ^ most often in their homes (doi.org)
- ^ home is the most dangerous place (doi.org)
- ^ in about 70% of cases (doi.org)
- ^ child survivors (doi.org)
- ^ witnessed the Louisiana mass shooting (www.theguardian.com)
- ^ occur as or after a woman tries to leave the relationship (doi.org)
- ^ associated with the greatest risk (doi.org)
- ^ was separating from his wife (www.wral.com)
- ^ nine times more likely to be murdered (doi.org)
- ^ money designated for their children’s activities (www.nbcwashington.com)
- ^ directly or indirectly (doi.org)
- ^ 3 in 5 cases of murder-suicide (doi.org)
- ^ domestic violence protection orders (doi.org)
- ^ Removing firearm access (doi.org)
- ^ well-tested (doi.org)
- ^ danger assessment (www.dangerassessment.org)
- ^ MyPlan (myplanapp.org)
- ^ known, predictable risks (doi.org)
Authors: Kathryn Spearman, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Penn State
