SANTA ANA, CA – A California mother faces murder charges in the death of her 11-year-old son following a harrowing end to what was meant to be a joyful family trip to Disneyland.
Saritha Ramaraju, 48, has been charged with murder and the personal use of a deadly weapon in connection with the death of her son, Yatin Ramaraju. According to court documents, these charges could result in a sentence of up to 26 years to life if she is convicted.
On the morning of March 19, Ramaraju called Santa Ana Police, confessing that she had fatally stabbed her son in a room at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Santa Ana. Police arrived to find the boy deceased with a large knife nearby. The room was filled with Disneyland memorabilia, starkly juxtaposing the tragic scene.
Investigators believe the boy had been dead for several hours before his mother’s call. Reports indicate that Ramaraju had also ingested pills in an apparent suicide attempt and was subsequently hospitalized. After treatment, she was transferred to the Santa Ana jail, where she remains held without bail.
The killing followed a three-day visit to Disneyland, part of a custody visit with her son. Ramaraju and the boy’s father divorced in 2018, after which she relocated out of state. The trip was to end with Yatin being returned to his father’s care.
Ramaraju’s next court date is scheduled for April 17. In a statement, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the tragic nature of the case, highlighting the responsibilities of parenthood that seemed to have been starkly neglected.
Authorities continue to seek witnesses to the events surrounding the incident. They have asked that anyone with information come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
The tragic circumstances underscore the complex interactions of family dynamics and the catastrophic consequences when personal conflicts override parental duties.