Burbank police have arrested 30-year-old Sergio Fraire in connection with a deadly stabbing that killed 59-year-old Arti Varma and left her 25-year-old daughter, Meera Varma, hospitalized. The attack occurred just after 6 a.m. on April 20 at a home on North Brighton Street in Burbank. Fraire was booked on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, with formal charges pending review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Arti Varma, a first-grade teacher at Bret Harte Elementary School, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Her daughter, Meera Varma, a mental health advocate and TEDx speaker, survived the attack and is in stable condition. Meera Varma has worked with prominent figures, including Oprah Winfrey, President Joe Biden, and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
The Burbank Unified School District released a statement honoring Arti Varma, calling her a "deeply valued member of the community" known for her dedication and warmth. Neighbors expressed shock, with one describing the incident as "unfathomable." The relationship between the suspect and the victims remains under investigation.
Police responded to a call for help and found both women with stab wounds. Fraire was later arrested by a SWAT team around 10 p.m. the same day at a location on East Palm Avenue. Authorities have asked anyone with information to contact the Burbank Police Department’s Investigation Division at (818) 238-3210.