A 48-year-old Indian-origin woman, Saritha Ramaraju, has been charged with murdering her 11-year-old son, Yatin Ramaraju. The crime took place in a Santa Ana motel after a three-day trip to Disneyland.
Prosecutors say she slit Yatin’s throat on March 19. That was the day she was supposed to return him to his father, Prakash Raju. She later called 911, admitted to the crime, and tried to take her own life by ingesting pills.
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Saritha Ramaraju had divorced Prakash Raju in 2018. She was visiting California as part of a custody agreement. She booked a motel room in Santa Ana and purchased three-day Disneyland passes for herself and Yatin Ramaraju.
When police arrived, they found Yatin deceased on the bed. He was surrounded by Disneyland souvenirs. A large kitchen knife was also recovered from the scene. Investigators confirmed it was bought a day before the incident.
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Reports reveal that Saritha Ramaraju and Prakash Raju had been fighting over custody. Saritha Ramaraju accused Prakash Raju of controlling behavior and substance abuse. Prakash Raju denied all allegations.
The court had granted Prakash Raju full custody of Yatin. Saritha Ramaraju was allowed only visitation rights. Prosecutors believe this dispute could have been a reason for the crime.
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Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned the murder. He stated that a child should never be caught in parental conflicts.
Saritha Ramaraju was discharged from the hospital on March 21 and taken into police custody. If convicted, she faces 26 years to life in prison.
