Man kills girlfriend, child before setting apartment on fire

Police in Wallingford, Connecticut, believe that a young mother and her infant son were killed by her boyfriend days before he set their apartment on fire, leading to his own death. The bodies of 19-year-old Karizmah Johnson and 9-month-old Kylenn Varnado were discovered after a fire on April 17, 2024. First responders found Justin Varnado, 24, severely burned as he exited the burning building. Inside, officers discovered the deceased mother and child. Autopsies showed that both Johnson and Kylenn died of homicidal asphyxia, suggesting they were killed between two and seven days before the fire. Justin Varnado died later in the hospital due to injuries from the fire, and his death has been ruled a suicide. At the time of the incident, there was an active protection order against Justin Varnado that prohibited him from being at the residence. He had a prior arrest for domestic violence just weeks earlier. Police were last called to the apartment for a property removal on March 25, 2024, where he was informed of the restrictions. Investigators found evidence that Justin Varnado had filled a gas can at a nearby station on the day of the fire. Neighbors reported that they had not seen the mother or child for nearly a week prior to the incident and noticed strong odors coming from the apartment. The investigation revealed that Justin used gasoline and a lighter to start the fire, which ultimately claimed his life. The case remains under investigation by multiple agencies, including the Wallingford Police and the Connecticut State Police.