In the summer of 2019, tragedy struck a family in Fairfield, Alabama, leaving a mother and her son dead in what remains an unsolved double homicide. On June 3, 2019, 23-year-old Tavaris Honor and his mother, 48-year-old Catherine “Mrs. Cat” Honor, were found slain at their home on 57th Street. The grim discovery was made by a family member who found Tavaris lying in the yard and Catherine in the doorway of the house.
It appeared as though Catherine may have been trying to retreat into the home when she was shot.
This violent incident was not the first to plague the Honor family at that very same residence. In 2016, another of Catherine's sons had been murdered in front of the house, a case in which an arrest was eventually made. The home itself has a notable history, having once been the childhood home of baseball legend Willie Mays.
In the years following the deaths of Tavaris and Catherine Honor, their case has grown cold, leaving their loved ones with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss. As of May 2025, no suspects have been publicly identified or arrested in connection with the double homicide. The investigation has been complicated by changes within the local law enforcement structure. The Fairfield Police Department, which initially handled the case, was in a period of transition around the time of the murders. The detective assigned to the investigation reportedly retired in the same year the homicides occurred.
In September 2019, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office assumed law enforcement responsibilities for the city of Fairfield. However, the sheriff's office has stated that they were not formally requested to take over the investigation into the deaths of Tavaris and Catherine Honor. This has left the family feeling forgotten and desperate for closure. With no new leads or suspects, the quest for justice for Tavaris and Catherine Honor continues, their murders a painful and unresolved chapter for their family and the Fairfield community.
