Police: 19-year-old woman, child dead before ‘suspicious’ fire in Wallingford

Police believe a woman and child were dead before a “suspicious” fire at a multi-family home in Wallingford last Wednesday.

Fire crews responded to a home at 25 Geneva Ave. in Wallingford around 6 p.m. on April 17 after receiving a 911 call from someone who reported hearing screaming coming from inside the home, according to the Wallingford Police Department.

Crews quickly located a man, later identified as 24-year-old Justin Varnado, outside suffering from serious burns. Varnado was airlifted via LifeStar to an area burn center where he later died, police said.

Fire crews who entered the home had to battle heavy smoke conditions and heat. They found two victims in the home later identified as 19-year-old Karizmah Johnson and 9-month-old Kylenn (Jasir) Varnado, according to police.

On Friday, Wallingford Police Chief John Ventura said the incident was classified as a “suspicious death investigation.”

A preliminary investigation indicated that Johnson and Kylenn (Jasir) Varnado were dead before the fire, Wallingford police said Monday. Their manner and cause of death are pending results from the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

According to police, Justin Varnado was arrested on March 25 for domestic violence charges. He was charged with second-degree breach of peace and risk of injury to a minor. At the time of the fire, there was an active order of protection barring him from being at the residence, police said.

The criminal investigation is ongoing, according to police. The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation by the State Fire Marshall.

Anyone with information has been asked to call the Wallingford Police Department at 203-294-2845. Information can also be left at the department’s website at police.wallingfordct.gov.

Information from Courant reporter Justin Muszynski was used in this report.