Mesquite Police officers responded to a call from a residence on Arguello Drive this morning at approximately 4:30 a.m., and upon arrival officers found Councilwoman Donna Fairchild and her husband Bill Fairchild deceased.
Upon preliminary investigation it appears each of them died of a single gunshot wound, however an autopsy is scheduled Wednesday morning. The report from the Clark County Coroner’s Office is expected to take four to six weeks at which time the investigation will be complete.
A statement from the office of the Mayor and City Council: “It is with a heavy heart that we make this announcement. Mesquite has lost two citizens that have devoted their life to public service. This is a tremendous loss to our community and we express our deepest sympathies to the Fairchild’s family, loved ones and friends.”
Donna served on the city council from 2001-2007, and was re-elected in 2009. Donna moved to Mesquite with her husband Bill in 1999 after they both retired from the Denver Police Department. Donna was born in Munich, Germany, and lived in Dover, Delaware; Izmir, Turkey and Denver, Colorado. She has been an EMT/Paramedic, news reporter for KIMN/KYGO radio in Denver, and police officer, technician and sergeant on the Denver Police Department.
In Mesquite, Bill worked at Recreation Center, was a member of the Virgin Valley Honor Guard and VFW. The Fairchilds were married for 21 years.
No other statements will be made at this time.
