An Indian-origin woman has been charged with murder after allegedly killing her 11-year-old son following a visit to Disneyland in California. The incident occurred during a custody visit, underscoring a contentious custody dispute ongoing for more than a year.
Saritha Ramaraju, 48, is facing one felony count of murder and an enhancement for personal use of a weapon after allegedly slitting the throat of her son, Yatin Ramaraju.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office stated that if convicted, she could face a sentence of 26 years to life in prison.
The discovery was made on March 19 at a La Quinta Inn in Santa Ana, California, where Ramaraju had been staying with her son. That morning, around 9:12 a.m., Ramaraju called 911, reporting she had killed her son and ingested pills in a suicide attempt.
Santa Ana police found the boy’s body on the bed, surrounded by souvenirs from their Disneyland trip. Authorities believe he had been deceased for several hours before Ramaraju contacted them.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated, “A child’s well-being should never be jeopardized by the hostility between parents whose resentment toward one another overshadows their care and love for their child.”
Spitzer also noted that anger can lead individuals to lose focus on their responsibilities and loved ones.
A large kitchen knife, identified by prosecutors as the murder weapon, was found at the scene. Ramaraju had reportedly purchased the knife the day prior to the incident.
Court documents indicate that Ramaraju and her ex-husband, Prakash Raju, divorced in 2018. Raju was granted custody of their son, while Ramaraju retained visitation rights. The alleged murder happened on the day she was to return her son to his father.
The couple had been involved in a heated custody battle since last year. Ramaraju, who moved to Fairfax, Virginia, after the divorce, sought custody of her son. She accused her ex-husband of making decisions regarding their son’s medical and school matters without consulting her, and alleged substance abuse issues.
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 “severe control issues.”
Raju refuted these claims, describing them as “completely false and untrue abuse and substance abuse issues.”
Prior to the incident, Ramaraju had purchased three-day passes to Disneyland for herself and her son. The souvenirs found at the scene were from this trip.
After calling 911 and confessing to the killing, Ramaraju was hospitalized for treatment after ingesting an unknown substance in what authorities suspect was a suicide attempt. She was released from the hospital on March 20 and immediately arrested.
Ramaraju’s next court appearance is slated for April 17. She is currently held without bail.
The case has garnered significant attention in both Santa Ana, California, and the broader Indian-American community, as details continue to surface.
