Burbank fatal double stabbing victim identified as 1st grade teacher; Man arrested
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a double stabbing left a Burbank elementary teacher dead and her daughter hospitalized, according to authorities.
In a news release, the Burbank Police Department said 59-year-old Arti Varma died from her injuries suffered Monday morning after her and her daughter were stabbed.
Police said officers responded to the 2800 block of North Brighton Street at about 6 a.m. following reports of the double stabbing. Upon arrival, they found Varma and her 25-year-old daughter, Meera, suffering from stab wounds. Police say Meera Varma called 911.
The suspect fled the scene and remained at large for most of the day.
The ensuing investigation included interviewing witnesses, canvassing for evidence and examining surveillance video, police said. They later identified Sergio Fraire as the person of interest.
Burbank PD later sent a SWAT team to serve a search warrant at a residence on the 500 block of East Palm Avenue. Fraire, believed to be staying in that residence, with his mother and sister, was taken into custody and further evidence, including a knife they think was used in the stabbing, was collected.
Fraire was then arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
It's still unclear whether Fraire had a relationship with Varma or her daughter, who was in stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery on Monday. The motive remains under investigation, but a search of property records at the home where Fraire was arrested shows that someone with the same surname as the suspect also works at the same elementary school where Arti Varma worked. Police have not yet noted if this connection played a role in the crime.
The Burbank Unified School District later confirmed that Varma was a first-grade teacher at Bret Harte Elementary School.
In a statement, BUSD said it was providing special care and attention to Harte Elementary in the form of counseling and mental health support services, including students and staff who may need additional care.
"Ms. Varma was a deeply valued member of the Burbank Unified community. She was known not only for her dedication to teaching, but for the care, warmth, and passion she brought to her work every day," BUSD said in a statement. "Her commitment to her students, her colleagues, and the Bret Harte Elementary School community was evident in the relationships she built and the lasting impact she had on the lives of those she served. Her loss is felt profoundly across our District."
Meera Varma is known for her work in mental health advocacy.
"I know she has gone on to do a ton for mental health advocacy," said Markie Pasternak, a former colleague of Meera Varma and the Senior Manager of Higher Education at Active Minds. "From working with the Bidens to Oprah Winfrey."
It's the second alleged murder of a teacher of Harte Elementary in recent years. In May 2024, kindergarten teacher Karyn Lombardo was found dead in her home. Her then-25-year-old son was later charged with murder.