Death of mother, child found dead in CT house fire ruled homicide; father died by suicide

An autopsy showed a mother and child found dead after a house fire in Wallingford in April were victims of a homicide, and the child’s father died by suicide.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Monday said 19-year-old Karizmah Johnson and 9-month-old Kylenn Varnado both died of homicidal asphyxia before they were found dead in what police have called a “suspicious” fire at 25 Geneva Ave. in Wallingford on April 17.

The father of the child, 24-year-old Justin Varnado, died of complications of thermal injuries, an autopsy showed. His death was ruled a suicide, according to the OCME.

Justin Varnado was found outside the home suffering from burns when emergency crews arrived. He was airlifted to an area hospital before he died.

DCF notified of alleged assault in front of child prior to deadly CT house fire, arrest report shows

Fire crews responded to the home around 6 p.m. after receiving a 911 call from someone who reported hearing screaming coming from inside, according to the Wallingford Police Department.

Fire crews who entered the home had to battle heavy smoke conditions and heat before finding Johnson and Kylenn Varnado, police said.

Days after the fire, police said they believed Johnson and Kylenn Varnado were dead before the blaze. Wallingford Police Chief John Ventura described the police probe as a “suspicious death investigation.”

Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday seeking an update the status of their investigation.

The Wallingford Fire Marshal’s Office also did not immediately respond an inquiry about the investigation into the cause of the fire.

According to police, a protective order had barred Justin Varnado from being at the home after he was arrested on March 25 on charges of second-degree breach of peace and risk of injury to a minor. The police report from that arrest — which does not name the victim — indicates that a woman at the Geneva Avenue home alleged that Justin Varnado had struck her head in front of the couple’s child, who was 8 months old at the time.