KEENE, N.H. —
Investigators said Wednesday that a Keene man likely shot and killed his wife before killing himself.
Autopsies were conducted on Donna Fairbanks, 70, and her husband, Chandler Fairbanks, 72, after their bodies were found Tuesday in their Keene home.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office said the medical examiner determined that both died of gunshot wounds. Donna Fairbanks’ death was determined to be a homicide, and Chandler Fairbanks’ death was ruled a suicide.
Donna Fairbanks was a beloved math teacher in Keene who continued to substitute teach after she retired.
The Keene School District is remembering her as a pillar of the community and one of the best both inside the classroom and out.
“As a professional, as a teacher, Donna was top-notch. Second-to-none,” said Robb Malay, superintendent of the Keene School District.
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Donna Fairbanks taught thousands over her nearly 40 years teaching, including school board chair George Downing and his two children.
“Donna started each day talking with us, not about math, not about homework, but what we were doing,” Downing said.
Throughout her teaching career, Donna Fairbanks received multiple awards within the school district over the years and was nominated in 2008 for New Hampshire Teacher of the Year.
“She loved what she did; she was very passionate about the art and the craft that goes into teaching, and she was really good at it,” Malay said.
Officials said no further information is expected to be released.