Authorities identify Keene couple found dead in apparent murder-suicide

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 8:07 PM

Donna Fairbanks, 70, and her husband, Chandler Fairbanks, 72, both died from gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the N.H. Attorney General’s Office.

Law enforcement officials on Wednesday afternoon identified the two Keene residents who were found dead in their home a day earlier.

Donna Fairbanks, 70, and her husband, Chandler Fairbanks, 72, both died from gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the N.H. Attorney General’s Office.

“Based upon the information available at this time, it appears that on June 16, inside their home, Chandler Fairbanks shot and killed his wife Donna Fairbanks and then shot and killed himself,” the release said. Keene police found the couple dead late Tuesday morning while conducting a welfare check at their home at 381 Hurricane Road, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Donna J. Fairbanks spent decades teaching at Keene Middle School, where she joined the staff in 1980 and taught several subjects, including math. She was also recognized for her work as an educator. In 2016, she received an Exceptional Teacher Award from the Keene Board of Education, according to a post from that time on N.H. School Administrative Unit 29’s Facebook page.