Mother killed, her daughter injured in Burbank stabbing, family friend says

BURBANK, Calif. (KABC) -- A mother was killed and her daughter was injured after a stabbing attack inside a Burbank home, a close family friend said. Police are searching for the suspect.

Officers were called to the 2800 block of North Brighton Street around 6 a.m. Monday following a report of a stabbing, police said.

Police found two women with stab wounds. Both were taken to a hospital, where one of the victims later died.

Police have not released the names of the victims, but neighbor Victor Goli said the victims are a mother and daughter. Goli identified the victims as Arti Varma and her daughter Meera Varma.

Goli said Arti died from her wounds and Meera was critically injured and is in the hospital fighting for her life.

"It was kind of a shock to hear just a few minutes ago that their house was broken into," Goli told Eyewitness News.

Arti was a school teacher in the Burbank school district and her daughter Meera is a nationally known mental health activist who has worked alongside well-known figures including Oprah Winfrey, former President Joe Biden, former first lady Jill Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Goli said Arti's husband and Meera's father is currently in India.

"He couldn't even speak right... He was crying," Goli said when asked how the husband reacted.

A neighbor said she shared surveillance video with police showing the suspect leaving the crime scene.

A motive for the attack has not been released.

"The relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims remains under investigation," Burbank police said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact police.