Connecticut woman faces life in prison for suffocating eight-year-old son and setting home on fire

A Connecticut woman faces life in prison for the horrific murder of her eight-year-old son, who she suffocated before setting their home on fire.

A New Haven jury on Tuesday found Karin Ziolkowski guilty of murdering her son Elijah Ziolkowski and arson in the second degree, said New Haven State's Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr.

Ziolkowski suffocated her 8-year-old son in their home located in the 100 block of Davis Street in Meriden on November 14, 2016, according to evidence shown at trial, the New Haven State attorney's office said in a press release.

Using fluid from a tiki torch, she then proceeded to set the house ablaze with her child inside. She set her bedroom on fire first and then set another fire in the basement, the Hartford Courant reported.

Two days before the heinous murder on November 12, 2016, the killer mom tweeted: 'Why did I have a child?' the Record-Journal reported.

A New Haven jury on Tuesday found Karin Ziolkowski (pictured) guilty in the murder of her son Elijah Ziolkowski, 8, (pictured) and arson in the second degree, according to New Haven State's Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr

It is unclear why it took many years for Ziolkowski (pictured in mugshot) to be brought to trial for the murder that took place November 14, 2016

A image of the burning house that the boy's mother intentionally set fire too using a tiki torch

Elijah was a big Star Wars fan (pictured). Ziolkowski suffocated him in their home before setting the home on fire

When emergency personnel arrived at the burning home little Elijah was unable to be resuscitated, and Karin Ziolkowski was taken to Hartford Hospital for severe smoke inhalation in the fire she intentionally set, Law & Crime reported. 

The Chief Medical Examiner's office ruled Elijah's death a homicide and the cause of death was asphyxiation and acute intoxication.

Early in the case, the authorities thought the child died from smoke inhalation until they learned that the fire was set prior to her son's death.

The autopsy revealed Elijah had a deadly amount of antihistamine diphenhydramine, which is found in common over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl, in his system, the news outlet reported.

The medical examiner said that the child died before the house was set on fire, the Record-Journal, reported.

Detectives from the Meriden Police Department also found a number of shocking social media posts that the killer mother had posted days before the murder.

On November 10, 2016,  Ziolkowski tweeted the terms 'fire extinguisher' and 'devil's playground,' as well as '#takethatasyouwill,'' according to a warrant obtained by the Record-Journal.  

One day later, she reportedly tweeted the phrase 'empty promises,' followed again by '#takethatasyouwill.' 

Then on November 12, 2016, she tweeted, 'why did I have a child.' 

The aftermath of the fire that Ziolkowski set on November 14, 2016

The mother and son in an undated photo. Authorities say Ziolkowski moved to North Carolina after the deadly fire and was arrested on October 2017 and extradited back to Connecticut

A photo of Elijah wearing a Star Wars tee shirt. Two days before the heinous murder on November 12 the killer mom tweeted: 'Why did I have a child?' the Record-Journal reported

Elijan was a third grade student at Israel Putnam School where he was  well-liked by both staff and his classmates.

'Bubbly kid. You know, loves Star Wars, Legos. … You know, a normal 8-year-old boy,' Enza Adamcewicz, the principal of the school, told WVIT.

'He was very social. ... Everybody knew him, knew of him. Big personality and he will be greatly missed.

Ziolkowski moved to North Carolina after the deadly fire, authorities said.

She was arrested October 2017 and held at Gaston County Jail where she awaited extradition back to Connecticut.

It is unclear why it took another five years for Ziolkowski to be brought to trial for her son's murder.  

She is scheduled to be sentenced in New Haven Superior Court on January 10, 2023.

The State's Attorney Doyle expressed his condolences to Elijah's family and expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the case.

'Our thoughts are with Elijah's family at this time and we hope this verdict eases some of the suffering they've endured after the unimaginable loss of a child,' he said in a statement released Wednesday.

'We also would like to extend our appreciation to the Meriden police, firefighters and EMTs as well as those in the Division of Scientific Services and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner who worked on this case.

Though they are trained to handle investigations involving the deaths of children, we know this work can take a toll both physically and emotionally.'