ANNANDALE, Va. — Justin Fairfax, the former lieutenant governor of Virginia, experienced a personal crisis marked by alcoholism and disengagement as his marriage and career unraveled. Disturbing details from divorce documents reveal he even resorted to stealing money to purchase firearms for his children.
Fairfax’s emotional breakdown came to light through court records filed in January in relation to his ongoing divorce—just months prior to the tragic murder-suicide involving his wife, Serena, which occurred Thursday.
The filings detailed Fairfax’s decline, noting he often isolated himself in his parents’ office, living amid “empty wine bottles, trash, and piles of dirty laundry.” He reportedly only ventured out to buy food or smoke.
Shockingly, he had once bought a handgun in 2022 with cash that was meant for his children’s horseback riding lessons, according to the documents.
The documents also suggest that he neglected family finances, allowing mortgage payments to default and ignoring household bills.
Selina Fairfax accused him of refusing to fulfill his responsibilities, claiming that the term “deadbeat” aptly described his actions.
During the contentious divorce proceedings, the presiding judge noted that Fairfax, representing himself, did not contest the allegations against him.
A judge mandated that Fairfax vacate the family home by April 30. However, just weeks before this deadline, he fatally shot his estranged wife and then himself inside their $1 million home in Annandale.
Documents reflect Fairfax’s steep decline since allegations of sexual assault emerged in 2019, severely impacting his mental state and political aspirations.
After resigning in 2022, Fairfax distanced himself further from his family, with his wife asserting that his troubling behavior persisted.
“Taking these facts into account, [Fairfax] is portrayed as a gifted individual grappling with unresolved emotional and psychological challenges. These issues seem to define him and hinder his potential, especially in his role as a father,” the filings state.
“In sum, the evident trauma he has faced is stark. Fairfax has not fully addressed these issues, and his isolation, drinking, and lack of family involvement suggest a sense of fatalism and hopelessness. He appeared oblivious to how his actions affected others.”
The couple, married for two decades, continued cohabiting despite their divorce proceedings.
Serena had initially filed for divorce in July 2025, marking a year following their separation.
Local authorities indicated that the “messy divorce” likely contributed to the tragic events that unfolded, where Fairfax shot his wife multiple times before taking his own life.
