A former Burbank High School track and cross-country standout has been charged with special circumstances murder after allegedly fatally stabbing first-grade teacher Arti Varma and critically injuring her daughter Meera in their Burbank home on Monday.
A former Burbank High School track and cross-country star has been charged with murder after allegedly fatally stabbing a first-grade teacher and critically injuring her daughter in their Burbank home.
Sergio Fraire, 30, was taken into custody Monday night after a SWAT team served a search warrant at an apartment building on East Palm Avenue in Burbank. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday and is being held without bail.
Fraire faces one count of special circumstances murder with a special circumstance of lying in wait, one count of attempted murder, and one count of first-degree residential burglary.
Arti Varma, 59, died from her injuries at a hospital. Her daughter, Meera Varma, 25, remains in stable condition after being critically wounded in the attack.
Authorities allege Fraire used a knife to personally inflict great bodily injury on both victims.
The attack happened at a home in the 2800 block of North Brighton Street between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday, according to prosecutors.
Fraire walked roughly three miles from his residence to the crime scene before entering the home while the victims were sleeping, according to Burbank Police Lt. Brent Fekety.
Surveillance video showed Fraire in handcuffs as he was led out of the apartment building on East Palm Avenue after police arrived in armored trucks to make the arrest.
Before this week, Fraire was known by his former classmates as a dedicated student and track athlete who served as a role model for younger runners.
Fraire graduated from Burbank High School in 2013 after spending three years on the middle distance running and cross-country teams. He was named the most outstanding freshman, a top sophomore, and a first-team all-area cross-country runner his junior year.
Fraire could run a 1500 meter in 4 minutes and 20 seconds and a 5K in 14 minutes and 50 seconds, according to his college recruiting profile.
Among those who ran with Fraire was Andres Pulgarin, who was a year behind him at Burbank High.
I had only positive experiences with him, Pulgarin said. 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.
Fraire earned a black belt in martial arts and was part of the school's Spanish club, according to his college recruiting profile.
By 2019, Fraire was employed at World Market in Burbank while working toward a psychology degree at Glendale Community College, according to court records.
In February 2019, a co-worker accused Fraire of sexual assault, according to her application for a temporary restraining order filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Fraire denied the assault in his own filing, saying any sexual activity was consensual. He also offered a letter of recommendation from two instructors at Glendale Community College.
One letter was written by Richard Kamei, a sociology professor at the school. Fraire is described as someone who takes his education seriously. Kamei wrote that Fraire has a sincere interest in understanding the subject matter in order to be able to better understand the complexities of the world in which he lives in order to play a role in effectuating positive change.
A judge granted the temporary restraining order in February 2019. Less than three months later, Fraire and the woman reached an agreement to have it withdrawn. Both parties agreed to stay away from each other, according to court records.
Arti Varma was a first-grade teacher at Bret Harte Elementary School for 15 years. She was described by school district officials as a devoted and passionate teacher who was committed to the education of her students.
She emigrated from India after spending her childhood there with a loving extended family, according to the school website.
Varma's daughter, Meera, is a nationally recognized mental health activist who became passionate about youth mental health after enduring her own struggles in high school.
Meera became the youngest speaker in TED x UCLA history in 2023. She participated in a mental health summit at UCLA with media mogul Oprah Winfrey. She was invited to the White House to speak about the youth mental health crisis and policy, according to her website.
Arti Varma is the second teacher at Bret Harte Elementary to be killed in the last two years.
This news is heartbreaking. Our deepest condolences are with Ms. Varma's students, colleagues, friends, and loved ones, and with all members of the Bret Harte community who may be struggling with this loss. Words cannot fully express the sorrow we feel or the care we hold for those who are grieving, said Interim Superintendent Dr. Oscar Macias.
Counseling and mental health support services will be available for students and staff who may need them.
Neighbors said the attack has been difficult to process and wonder who would attack the mother and daughter.
Stop right now. Stop right now. That's what I heard, and I came outside, and then I saw all my neighbors out there, said a neighbor who witnessed police surrounding the suspect and arresting him. Its unthinkable. I cant even imagine. Im speechless.
Victor Goli, a family friend of the victims, said it was gut-wrenching to break the news to Arti's husband, who was in India at the time. He couldnt even speak, right. He was hysterical. He was crying. It was insane.
Detectives continue to investigate the relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims, as well as the motive, Lt. Fekety said.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burbank Police Department's Investigation Division at 818-238-3210.
Fraire is due back in court on June 12.
This article was generated with AI assistance.