FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(New Haven, CT) - New Haven State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. announced that the Honorable Jon M. Alander sentenced Karin Ziolkowski today to 40 years in prison for the 2016 murder of her 8-year-old son, Elijah Ziolkowski, in Meriden.
A Superior Court jury in New Haven on November 8, 2022 convicted Ziolkowski of the crime of Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a and Arson in the Second Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-112.
Ziolkowski was sentenced to 40 years’ incarceration on the murder charge and to 10 years’ incarceration on the arson charge. All sentences are to be served concurrently, for a total effective sentence of 40 years’ incarceration.
According to evidence introduced at the trial, Ziolkowski asphyxiated her son while in their home in Meriden on November 14, 2016. She then intentionally set two fires in the home. The child was not able to be resuscitated on scene and his death was ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Stacey M. Miranda and Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Holmes.
The case was investigated by the Meriden Police Department with the assistance of the City of Meriden Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the Division of Scientific Services within the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
“Our thoughts are with Elijah’s family at this time,” State’s Attorney Doyle said. “Though nothing can bring back Elijah or lessen the pain of his loved ones, we hope today’s prison sentence brings Elijah’s family some measure of peace now that the person responsible for his senseless and unimaginable death has been brought to justice.”