A woman faces murder charges after allegedly killing her 11-year-old son following a three-day visit to Disneyland in California. The incident took place during a custody visit, underscoring a prolonged custody dispute that had lasted more than a year.
Saritha Ramaraju, 48, is charged with one felony count of murder and an additional felony enhancement for using a weapon after allegedly slitting the throat of her son, Yatin Ramaraju.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office stated that if convicted on all counts, she could face a prison term ranging from 26 years to life.
The incident came to light on March 19 at a La Quinta Inn in Santa Ana, California, where Ramaraju was staying with her son for the custody visit. At approximately 9:12 a.m., Ramaraju called 911 to report that she had killed her son and had taken pills in an attempt to end her own life.
Upon arrival, Santa Ana police discovered the boy’s body on the bed, surrounded by souvenirs from their Disneyland trip. Investigators suspect the boy had been deceased for several hours before Ramaraju’s call to authorities.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer remarked that a child’s safety should never be compromised by parental conflicts, where animosity eclipses concern and affection for the child.
Spitzer also stated that anger can cause individuals to lose focus on those they hold dear and neglect their responsibilities.
A large kitchen knife, identified by prosecutors as the murder weapon, was discovered in the motel room. According to the district attorney, Ramaraju purchased the knife the day prior to the incident.
Court documents reveal that Ramaraju and her ex-husband, Prakash Raju, divorced in 2018. The father was granted custody of their son, while Ramaraju was given visitation rights. The killing occurred on the day Ramaraju was scheduled to return her son to his father.
The couple had been engaged in a contentious custody battle since the previous year. Ramaraju, who relocated to Fairfax, Virginia after the divorce, sought custody of her son. She accused her ex-husband of making unilateral medical and educational decisions, and alleged he had substance abuse problems, making him “very aggressive under the influence of alcohol, drugs and smoke.”
Ramaraju claimed her son was “very scared to talk to mother as he will get into trouble with dad,” and accused her ex-husband of exhibiting “severe control issues.”
Raju, however, refuted these claims, describing them as “completely false and untrue abuse and substance abuse issues.”
Prior to the incident, Ramaraju had acquired three-day passes to Disneyland for herself and her son as part of their custody visit. The souvenirs found around the boy’s body were from this trip.
After contacting 911 and admitting to killing her son, Ramaraju was transported to a hospital for treatment following the ingestion of an unknown substance, which authorities believe was a suicide attempt. She was released from the hospital on Thursday, March 20, and arrested on suspicion of her son’s death.
Ramaraju’s next court appearance is slated for April 17, according to court documents. She is currently held without bail.
The case has shocked both the local community in Santa Ana and the wider Indian-American community, as more details of the alleged murder continue to surface.