Mother killed in Fairbanks murder-suicide worked toward better life for her children, her boss says

The 24-year-old woman killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Fairbanks on Feb. 22 was a single mother of two working full-time and attending college, according to her employer.

Vanessa D. Reese was involved with a Head Start school operated by Thrivalaska, first as a parent of a child in the program, and then as an employee for four years, said the school's executive director, Alicia Berka.

"Vanessa's goals all pointed toward building a better life for her children," Berka said in an email.

Fairbanks police say the bodies of Reese and 26-year-old Thien Tran, her ex-boyfriend, were found at Tran's residence on McCarty Avenue in Fairbanks shortly after 10 p.m. that Wednesday.

Both had gunshot wounds, police said. A preliminary investigation determined Tran shot Reese and then killed himself.

Reese attended Fairbanks North Star Borough's Options program, which helps teenage parents finish school. After graduation, she went to work as a certified nursing assistant at a medical center, according to Berka. Reese continued to work at the center after she took a position at Thrivalaska as its health and safety coordinator, Berka said.

In addition to her job at Thrivalaska, Reese attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She was enrolled in the school's pre-nursing program, said spokeswoman Marmian Grimes.

Reese's years as a teen mom appear to have developed into an affinity for health and wellness issues. She advocated for awareness in domestic violence, mental health and family care, her boss said.

"She had such a positive outlook and worked through many challenges in her life, like the strong woman and role model she was," Berka said.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported on Tran's history of domestic violence through court records that revealed he was charged in December 2015 with threatening a victim identified as "V.R." and her 7-year-old son. The woman reported that she was too afraid to call for help because Tran previously told her he'd kill her if she called police, according to the News-Miner.

The Fairbanks newspaper also detailed two other instances in which Tran threatened or harmed women.

Reese had just been accepted into nursing school, receiving a scholarship to attend College of Saint Mary in Nebraska, Berka said. She would have left behind a "family" at her workplace, she said.

Reese was close to many staff members, and she supported parents who developed personal relationships with her. Thrivalaska sent a letter to the parents involved in its program, sharing the news of Reese's death and offering resources for grieving and recovery.

"She was a big part of our family and we've lost a dear friend," Berka said.