An unsettling scene unfolded as armed SWAT officers took into custody a man accused of attacking a mental health activist affiliated with Oprah Winfrey and fatally wounding her mother.
Video captured from a doorbell camera showed 30-year-old Sergio Frere being escorted away in handcuffs after the violent incident that occurred in Burbank, California, early Monday morning.
Meera Varma, 25, a notable advocate for mental health, suffered injuries, while her mother Arti, aged 59 and a teacher, succumbed to her stab wounds.
Authorities are investigating three potential motives: whether Frere knew Meera through a mental health initiative, if she had a relative teaching at Arti’s school, or if he was once a student of hers.
The footage shows police raiding Frere’s father’s residence, located two miles from the scene of the crime.
Neighbors captured him being arrested and taken to a police car. There is a particular sense of unease in the footage—it’s just so surreal to watch.
Previously, officers were seen at another neighbor’s house, displaying a photo of the suspect and asking if he looked familiar.
Lt. Brent Feketty of the Burbank Police Department mentioned, “We’re still trying to discern why he was in that home.” Interestingly, there were no signs of forced entry, and nothing appeared to be stolen. According to reports, it was Meera who called 911 following the stabbing around 6 a.m.
Frere is said to have sprinted two miles from the attack site before his arrest.
It’s still unclear whether Meera or her mother was the intended target, although Lt. Feketty had a brief conversation with Meera after her surgery.
Meera Varma has become a well-known figure in mental health advocacy, working on projects alongside notable figures like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
She advocates for suicide prevention and discussed her experiences during a Tedx talk in 2023, revealing her own struggles with suicidal thoughts in April 2018. She described a poignant moment when her mother provided comfort, saying, “I love you. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here.”
Arti was a second-grade teacher at Bret Harte Elementary School. Tragically, she’s the second teacher to be murdered in recent years. Friends remember her fondly, noting her cheerful disposition and passion for teaching.
Christina Strattan, a friend, shared with ABC 7, “She loved being a teacher. Always seemed to have so much fun and was incredibly proud of her students.”
At the time of the stabbing, Meera’s father, Arti’s husband, was in India.
