The mother of an 8-year-old boy who died after an intentionally set fire engulfed a Meriden home last year has been arrested and charged with murder and second-degree arson.
Eight-year-old Elijah Ziolkowski was killed in the fire on Nov. 14, 2016 and his 40-year-old mother, Karin Ziolkowski, was in critical condition after the fire according to police.
On Friday, Meriden police said the mother has been charged with murder and arson. She was arrested in North Carolina, where she had been living after the fire.
Police said the boy's death was ruled homicidal asphyxia, which happened prior to the fire being set.
In 2016, firefighters found the mother and son inside a burning home while responding to the fire at 7:17 a.m. The boy died while the mother was in the ICU for a few days in critical condition.
Ziolkowski's bond was set at $1 million.
Elijah Ziolkowski was a third-grade student at the Israel Putnam School.
Local
Enza Adamcewicz, the principal of the school, said Elijah was at the school since kindergarten and the news that he died in the fire was devastating.
"Bubbly kid. You know, loves Star Wars, Legos. ... You know, a normal 8-year-old boy," Adamcewicz said. "He was very social. ... Everybody knew him, knew of him. Big personality and he will be greatly missed."
