Conn. mom sentenced to 40 years for killing son and lighting her house on fire with tiki torch oil

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (TCD) -- A 40-year-old woman was sentenced to several decades in prison this week for reportedly killing her young son in 2016 and lighting her home on fire.

A judge handed Karin Ziolkowski the sentence Tuesday, Jan. 17, following her convictions for murder and second-degree arson on Nov. 9. According to the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, Ziolkowski received 40 years in prison for murder and 10 years for arson, and they will be served concurrently.

On Nov. 14, 2016, Ziolkowski reportedly asphyxiated her 8-year-old child, Elijah, in their Meriden, Connecticut, home. Afterward, she set two fires in the home, and by the time paramedics arrived, Elijah could not be saved. According to NBC Connecticut, Ziolkowski used tiki torch oil to set the fires.

Elijah reportedly had dangerous amounts of Benadryl in his system as well. The New Haven Register reports a doctor at the medical examiner's office said the Benadryl "potentially placed him in a twilight state of incapacitation, but was likely not high enough to be lethal," even though Elijah had at least double the recommended amount.

His cause of death was homicidal asphyxia with contributing causes of diphenhydramine intoxication.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Elijah’s death a homicide.

According to the New Haven Register, Ziolkowski and her husband were in the midst of a divorce and she wanted to move to North Carolina with Elijah, but he did not approve of the plan.

Ziolkowski was arrested in North Carolina almost a year later in October 2017 and was extradited back to Connecticut, the Record-Journal reports.

Four days before Elijah was killed, Ziolkowski reportedly tweeted phrases such as "devil’s playground #takethatasyouwill" and "empty promises #takethatasyouwill."

Two days later, she allegedly wrote on Twitter, "Why did I have a child?"

MORE:

• Karin Ziolkowski Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Murder of 8-Year-Old Son, Elijah Ziolkowski - New Haven State's Attorney Office
• Jury Convicts Karin Ziolkowski of Murder, Arson Charges, 11/9/2022 - New Haven State's Attorney Office
• Court Documents Reveal Details About Meriden Mom Accused of Killing Son, 11/1/2017 - NBC Connecticut
• Meriden woman convicted of murder, arson in death of her son, 11/10/2022 - Record-Journal
• CT woman accused of killing her 8-year-old son awaits trial, 3/5/2019 - New Haven Register