“She Deserved Protection”: Dr. Kathleen Fabian Fatally Shot by Boyfriend Despite Repeated Warnings, Port Huron Community Reels
PORT HURON, MI – A community is in mourning and demanding accountability after Dr. Kathleen Fabian, a beloved obstetrician and mother, was fatally shot inside her home—allegedly by her longtime boyfriend, Thomas Williamson, 43—despite prior warnings about his deteriorating mental health and access to firearms.
The tragic incident has left Port Huron shaken and searching for answers. Friends and family say this was a preventable tragedy—one that could have been avoided had urgent concerns not been ignored by authorities.
According to those close to the couple, multiple warnings were made in recent weeks about Williamson’s unstable behavior. One friend told reporters that people had voiced alarm about his emotional state and his access to guns, particularly given his role as a caregiver to a severely autistic child shared with Dr. Fabian.
“He needed help, and people begged the system to intervene,” the friend said. “She deserved protection. They both did.”
On the night of the shooting, officers responded to a 911 call at Fabian’s residence and found her suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Williamson was taken into custody without incident and remains under investigation.
Dr. Kathleen Fabian was more than a physician—she was a lifeline to countless women and families in the Port Huron area. Known for her warmth, empathy, and dedication, she guided patients through the life-changing journey of childbirth and provided compassionate care throughout their lives.
“She brought life into this world,” one patient said tearfully. “To see hers taken so violently is just heartbreaking.”
Her colleagues at the local medical center described her as a brilliant, deeply kind woman whose absence leaves a painful void. “Kathleen had the rare combination of intelligence and heart. She was someone you trusted instantly,” a fellow doctor shared.
The tragedy has sparked urgent calls for reform around how mental health warnings are handled—especially when firearms are involved.
“We can’t keep ignoring red flags,” said a spokesperson for a local women’s advocacy group. “Domestic violence doesn’t always begin with bruises—it begins with patterns of control, threats, and emotional instability. And in this case, it ended in an irreversible loss.”
As the investigation continues, Fabian’s family is left to grieve a woman who was a loving mother, a trusted caregiver, and a cherished friend. Her children now face an unimaginable future without her presence, guidance, and love.
Community members have begun organizing vigils and calls for justice under the banner #JusticeForKathleen, demanding a full accounting of how the system failed to protect her despite the warnings.
In the words of one mourner at a candlelight vigil: “She saved so many lives. Why couldn’t someone have saved hers?”