Nationwide — The attorney for Meredith Watson, the woman who had accused Justin Fairfax of rape, said there were decades of warning signs before hr killed his wife and himself. She spoke after the April 16 shooting, pointing to long-standing abuse allegations and concerns that were ignored over many years.
Nancy Erika Smith, Watson’s attorney, said Fairfax showed a long pattern of violent behavior toward women. She also said he used legal action and public pressure to silence victims and media coverage, and she called for stronger responses when abuse is reported.
“First, this is horrific for their children who were home at the time of this event,” Smith told People. “There were decades of signs of his anger and mistreatment of women, and he used the court system to intimidate his victims and news outlets. Society must be more responsive when women report these crimes.”
Watson accused Fairfax of raping her in 2000 when they were both students at Duke University. She said he locked the door, stopped her from leaving, and forced sexual intercourse after she went to his room to spend time with him.
Another woman, Vanessa Tyson, also accused Fairfax of sexual assault during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. She said he forced her to perform oral sex. Both women made their allegations public in 2019, drawing national attention.
Fairfax denied all allegations. He called them a coordinated smear campaign and filed a defamation lawsuit against CBS, which a federal court later dismissed. He completed his term as lieutenant governor and later ran for Virginia governor in 2021, where he finished fourth in the Democratic primary.
On April 16, Fairfax shot and killed his wife, Cerina Fairfax, inside their Annandale home before shooting himself. Police said their children were inside the home at the time, and their son called 911 after the incident.
Authorities also said the couple was going through a difficult divorce. Court records show Cerina Fairfax accused him of alcoholism, unpaid financial support, and mounting debt tied to spending on trips for other people. He was scheduled to appear in court just days after the shooting.