A 29-year-old man of Indian origin, Varun Suresh, has been charged with murder for fatally stabbing a registered sex offender, David Brimmer in Fremont, California.
Police said the attack was deliberate and planned using the state’s public database of sex offenders.
How did he kill the offender?
On September 18, police were called around 12:01pm to Upper Vintners Circle after reports of a violent fight. Officers found 71-year-old David Brimmer, a convicted child sex offender, with severe stab wounds. Despite emergency care, he died at the scene.
Witnesses and investigators said Suresh pretended to be a certified public accountant (CPA) going door-to-door looking for clients. He carried a bag, notebook, and coffee to look convincing.
After approaching Brimmer’s home, Suresh confirmed his identity, shook his hand, and allegedly told him, “I knew I had the right guy.”
Brimmer tried to escape and ran two blocks into a neighbour’s garage and kitchen. Suresh chased him and stabbed him in the neck while telling him to “repent.”
Police said when Brimmer tried to crawl away, Suresh slit his throat to “make sure it was done.”
Who is Varun Suresh?
Suresh is a 29-year-old Fremont resident. Police said he found Brimmer’s name and address on California’s Megan’s Law website, which lists sex offenders.
Investigators found screenshots of Brimmer’s profile on Suresh’s phone, taken just 45 minutes before the stabbing. After being arrested at the scene, Suresh admitted to targeting Brimmer because of his past crimes and age.
He allegedly told officers, “I don’t like pedophiles. They deserve to die and honestly, killing him was really fun.” Suresh also said he never planned to run away and would have called police himself if they had not already arrived.
What was the intent behind the murder?
According to court documents, Suresh believed it was his “duty” to punish sex offenders. He told police, “It’s not your duty to decide whether Heaven will accept them, it’s your duty to send them to the gates.”
He also claimed people would support him because “everyone hates pedophiles.”
This is not Suresh’s first brush with the law. In 2021, Fremont police arrested him for burglary, making a false bomb threat and making criminal threats. In that case, he also claimed he was trying to target another alleged pedophile, the CEO of Hyatt Hotels.
Way forward
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has charged Suresh with murder under California Penal Code 187(a). He also faces additional charges for burglary and using a deadly weapon.
Authorities described the killing as an isolated incident and said there is no ongoing threat to the public. Suresh remains in custody while prosecutors review the case.