Family, friends, and members of the Keene community are mourning the heartbreaking loss of Donna Fairbanks, 70, and Chandler Fairbanks, 72, who were both found dead inside their home in a tragic incident that has left the community in shock.
According to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, autopsies confirmed that both Donna and Chandler Fairbanks died from gunshot wounds. Investigators say preliminary findings indicate that on June 16, inside their residence on Hurricane Road, Chandler Fairbanks fatally shot his wife before taking his own life.
The couple was discovered late Tuesday morning after officers with the Keene Police Department responded to 381 Hurricane Road to conduct a welfare check. Upon arriving at the home, officers found both individuals deceased, immediately launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
News of the incident has deeply shaken the Keene community, particularly because Donna Fairbanks was a well-known and highly respected educator who dedicated decades of her life to teaching. She served at Keene Middle School beginning in 1980, where she taught multiple subjects, including mathematics, and became known for her passion for education and commitment to helping students succeed.
Throughout her long career, Donna earned numerous recognitions for her impact inside the classroom. She was named one of five finalists for New Hampshire Teacher of the Year in 2008 and later received an Exceptional Teacher Award in 2016 from the Keene Board of Education, honoring the lasting difference she made in the lives of generations of students.
The sudden nature of both deaths has left loved ones devastated, with friends, former students, and community members struggling to process the heartbreaking news. Many remember Donna not only as an exceptional educator but as someone whose kindness and dedication touched countless lives.
As authorities continue their investigation, the community now mourns two lives lost in a tragedy that has left deep sorrow and many unanswered emotions in its wake.
