On May 7, 2026, an Assumption Parish jury found 41-year-old Charles Fair of Paincourtville, LA guilty of Manslaughter. Fair was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Daigle, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Steven Tureau. This guilty verdict comes following the 2024 stabbing death of 35-year-old Donald Ray Tunson Jr., also of Paincourtville.
On the evening of January 1, 2024, Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of Grant Rd. Paincourtville in reference to a domestic abuse related incident. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with a female victim who had been physically assaulted by Charles Fair. A short distance away, deputies located the body of a male subject who was identified as Donald Ray Tunson, Jr. Detectives were immediately notified and began processing the scene. During the investigation, detectives learned that the female victim had arrived at Fair’s residence accompanied by Donald Ray Tunson Jr. to drop off a minor child which she shared with Fair. Fair immediately attempted to gain entry into the vehicle and began striking the female victim. Donald Ray Tunson Jr. attempted to assist the female when he was stabbed in the upper torso by Fair. After being stabbed, Tunson began to flee the area until he collapsed in front of a neighboring residence and succumbed to his injuries from a single stab wound. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Fair who ultimately turned himself in to detectives and was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center.
It should be noted that prior to the beginning of trial, Fair entered a guilty plea to one count of Domestic Abuse Battery with Child Endangerment relative to the battery of the female victim. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.
Upon the jury returning a guilty verdict relative to the homicide, sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.
On September 8, 2026, Charles Fair appeared before Judge Tureau for sentencing. Fair was sentenced to 40 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections