A beloved elementary school teacher in California was fatally stabbed, and her daughter injured, after a man burst into their home. Arti Varma, 59, and her daughter Meera, 25, were stabbed in their Burbank home on Monday. Suspect Sergio Fraire, 30, was arrested and charged with Varma's murder.
Details of the Attack
The Bret Harte Elementary School teacher succumbed to her wounds on Monday, while her daughter remains in hospital recovering from her injuries, the Los Angeles Times reported. Burbank Police Department Lieutenant Brent Fekety told the outlet that witness statements and security footage led police to Fraire's arrest. According to Fekety, footage showed the suspect walking approximately three miles to Varma's home before breaking in between 3am and 6am.
Community Reaction
Neighbor Victor Goli told ABC 7 that Varma's husband and Meera's father was away in India when he heard the news. 'He couldn't even speak right... he was crying,' Goli said. Fraire's relationship with Varma remains unclear, however police noted that her sister works as a special education teacher for transitional kindergarten and first-grade students at Bret Elementary School, the Times reported.
The suspect's sister, who has not yet been identified, was also arrested on Thursday and charged with murder and other crimes, as police said they are continuing to investigate her, NBC 4 reported. 'Detectives continue to investigate the relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims, as well as the motive,' Fekety told the Times.
Suspect's Background
Fraire was arrested and charged with special circumstances murder, attempted murder and first-degree residential burglary. He pleaded not guilty and remains behind bars where he is being held without bail, the outlet reported. Fraire, who attended Burbank High School, was known as a role model who ran cross-country until he graduated in 2013, the Times reported. Andres Pulgarin, a former school peer, told the outlet: 'I had only positive experiences with him. He was always a person who would cheer teammates on - both on and off the field. He was a high achieving student who took Advanced Placement classes all of high school.' But Pulgarin said he looks completely different than his high school days, and added that he seemed 'disheveled.'
Fraire was accused of sexual assault by a female coworker in 2019 while employed at World Market and working toward his degree in psychology, the outlet reported. He denied the accusations, and the case was eventually withdrawn with both parties agreeing to stay away from each other. Fraire now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole should he be convicted in Varma's murder.
Victim Tributes
'Arti was a fantastic teacher and sweet lady,' neighbor Emma Strattan told the Times. 'The community feels her loss especially at Bret Harte Elementary.' The beloved teacher was described by her friend, Cristina Strattan, as 'an amazing teacher' who 'loved being a teacher,' ABC 7 reported. 'She was such a bright light. She was always so joyful, so proud of her kids,' she continued.
Burbank Mayor Tamala Takahashi said the news of Varma's death is 'deeply painful and difficult to process.' 'The tragedy which claimed the life of a beloved teacher at Bret Harte, Arti Varma, and left her daughter, Meera, several injured, has left us all carrying a heavy, collective heartache,' Takahashi wrote on Facebook. 'We are heartbroken for this loss, as we are all navigating together waves of shock and heavy grief. For the family and friends of Arti and Meera, I want to send my deep condolences for your loss,' she continued.
The Burbank Arts and Education Foundation described Varma as a 'cherished teacher' who 'touched so many lives with her kindness, compassion and dedication.' 'Her absence will be deeply felt across the BUSD community. We hold her family, students and colleagues in our thoughts and send our deepest condolences during this time of profound grief,' the foundation wrote on Facebook.
In a statement to ABC News, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said: 'Arti Varma was a deeply beloved elementary school teacher who was senselessly taken from her family and community in an act of horrific violence, leaving an entire community grieving in its wake.' 'I extend my deepest sympathies to the victims' family, Bret Harte Elementary School's staff, students and parents and the entire Burbank community,' he added.
Daughter's Achievements
Varma's daughter was a nationally recognized mental health activist, the Times reported. Meera was the youngest speaker in TED x UCLA history in 2023, she took part in a mental health summit at UCLA with Oprah Winfrey and she was invited to speak at the White House, her website stated.
The Daily Mail reached out to Bret Harte Elementary School for comment.
