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Indian-origin mother, daughter stabbed in California
The suspect was arrested hours later as police investigated the motive and any link to the victims.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 22, Apr 2026
- 17:39 EDT
- 78
Representative image / Pexels
An Indian-origin mother and daughter were stabbed inside a Burbank residence in California on April 20 with police confirming an arrest later the same day.
According to a news release issued by the Burbank Police Department, 59-year-old Arti Varma and her 25-year-old daughter, Meera Varma, were found with stab wounds when officers and paramedics responded to the scene.
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Both victims were transported to a local hospital. “Despite life-saving efforts, the mother, identified as 59-year-old Arti Varma, later succumbed to her injuries,” the release stated. Meera Varma remains hospitalized and is listed in stable condition.
Police said investigators conducted interviews, canvassed the area for evidence, and reviewed surveillance footage as part of the probe. Detectives identified 30-year-old Sergio Fraire as a person of interest.
Members of the department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team served a search warrant at a residence in the 500 block of East Palm Avenue, where Fraire was believed to be staying. “He was taken into custody without incident, and evidence related to the crime was recovered,” the department said.
Fraire has been arrested and booked on charges of murder and attempted murder. Formal charges are pending review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said the relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims remains under investigation, and the motive has not yet been determined.
According to local reports, Arti Varma worked as a first-grade teacher at Bret Harte Elementary School in Burbank, while Meera Varma is a mental health activist who has engaged with public figures including Oprah Winfrey and Joe Biden.
The Burbank Police Department has urged anyone with information related to the case to contact its Investigation Division.
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