Sergio Fraire faces murder and attempted murder charges after a stabbing attack at a Burbank home that killed 59-year-old schoolteacher Arti Varma and injured her daughter, mental health activist Meera Varma. The 30-year-old suspect was arrested Monday night following a police investigation. The motive and Fraire's relationship to the victims remain under investigation.
Burbank police responded to the 2800 block of North Brighton Street around 6 a.m. on Monday after reports of two people stabbed inside a residence. The victims were identified as Arti Varma and her 25-year-old daughter Meera Varma. Both were taken to a local hospital, where Arti succumbed to her injuries despite treatment efforts. Meera remains in stable condition, according to a Burbank Police Department press release. The investigation involved witness interviews, neighborhood canvassing and review of surveillance video, which identified Fraire as a person of interest. Officers executed a search warrant at a residence where Fraire was believed to be staying and recovered evidence related to the crime. He was taken into custody without incident that evening. Meera Varma is a nationally recognized mental health activist and TEDx speaker who has worked with figures including President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey. She has publicly credited her mother and grandmother as key sources of support in her mental health journey. Neighbors described Arti Varma as a beloved public school teacher who was kind and enjoyed working with youth. The victims' husband and father was in India when he learned of the attack and broke down in tears, family friend Victor Goli told KABC. 'He couldn't even speak right,' Goli said. 'He was crying.'
